By Missouri Public Radio
Jefferson City, MO. – Governor Matt Blunt says he supports the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on its recommendation that the state increase its regulation of dams.
In mid-December more than one billion gallons of water spilled from the Taum Sauk reservoir in southeast Missouri.
Under the proposal, the number of dams inspected by the state would increase from 600 to five thousand.
Representative J.C. Kuessner's district includes the Taum Sauk reservoir. He wants to make sure the Governor doesn't push for unfunded mandates
"Is the state going to step up and put engineers in place to regulate three-times more dams?" Kuessner said. "We already have a tight budget and so when you talk about more inspecting and closer scrutiny, then you're going to be talking about more employees."
Kuessner says the Governor cut funding from the Department of Natural Resources a couple of years ago, which forced the agency to fire several dam inspectors.