By M. Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – 27 Missouri conservation groups lobbied lawmakers in Jefferson City Wednesday to call attention to legislation they consider bad for the environment.
Josh Campbell of Missouri Votes Conservation says a bill pending in the state Senate could have negative long-term effects.
"It will hurt Missouri's conservation efforts completely," he said. "It will devastate Missouri's streams, fishing industry and canoeing industry, which all result in the depletion and devastation of Missouri's tourist trade."
Among other things, the bill would require the Department of Natural Resources to perform impact studies before changing environmental regulations.
Also Wednesday, U.S. Senator Kit Bond announced $61 million in federal conservation assistance for Missouri farmers.