Carthage plant to close for Maple Leaf Festival

~ The plant uses heat and pressure to turn turkey waste into oil, gas and other materials.

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- An alternative-fuel plant that has been the target of lawsuits and complaints over odor problems has agreed to close during two days of a popular festival.

The plant closure during next month's Maple Leaf Festival comes at the request of the Missouri attorney general's office and the city of Carthage.

Mayor Jim Woestman said Friday that the attorney general's office initially suggested officials seek a weeklong closure. "I told them we'd rather not ask a business to shut down for a week, but it would be good on Oct. 19 and 20, when we have so many outdoor activities," Woestman said.

A parade and other outdoor activities that attract thousands to Carthage are set for Oct. 20, and a number of outdoor vendors begin selling their wares the day before the parade.

"The plant will be closing those days, just as it has the last couple of years," said Glenn Watkins, a spokesman for the plant.

The RES plant, which began operating in May 2004, uses extreme heat and pressure to turn turkey waste from nearby packing plants into oil, gas and other materials.

Residents have repeatedly complained about strong smells from the plant. Gov. Matt Blunt ordered the plant shut down in December 2005, and it reopened three months later after spending more than $3 million for new odor control equipment.

According to Mark Rader of Department of Natural Resource's Springfield office, the industrial area that includes the plant was the source of 19 complaint calls to the state in August and 25 so far in September. He said the department received several complaints last week related to RES, but none resulted in state citations.

"It's not to the 7-1 strength that we can cite," said Rader. "It's definitely there, and definitely a nuisance; it's just not in violation of the regulation."

Watkins said RES officials told him "they were not aware of any odor complaints."

Woestman is among those lobbying for a stricter standard as part of a proposed change in state regulations. The Missouri Air Conservation Commission is reviewing the recommendations.