The Missouri Department of Natural Resources invites the public to review and offer written comments on a draft hazardous waste permit modification for the International Paper Co. facility until May 4, 2026. During the public comment period, anyone can request a public meeting or public hearing about the draft permit modification. For more information, please contact Abby Sawyer.
The International Paper Co. site is located on 98 acres at 2609 S. Rangeline Road in Joplin, Missouri. Since the 1930s, the site has been operated as a commercial wood treating facility. Both creosote and pentachlorophenol, or PCP, have been used at the site as the preserving solution. Sludges produced from the treatment of wastewaters from creosote and/or PCP wood preserving processes are classified as K001 hazardous waste. International Paper currently operates one 90-day temporary hazardous waste container storage area at the facility. Previously, the company operated 11 hazardous waste surface impoundments to store wastewater and sludges, and recover product used for wood treating.
On Jan. 26, 2006, International Paper decided to close its hazardous waste management units. Production operations stopped and the facility shut down in 2006 and the equipment was dismantled. The facility currently is vacant and there are no active manufacturing operations. International Paper is currently conducting post-closure and corrective action activities under two hazardous waste permits, a Missouri Department of Natural Resources-issued Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part 1 Permit and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-issued Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part 2 Permit.
On June 16, 2025, International Paper submitted a permit modification request to the department and EPA, requesting to modify its existing hazardous waste permits to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the permit, as well as remove 13 semi-volatile organic constituents from the annual monitoring requirements. After a thorough technical review of the permit modification request, the department prepared a draft Part 1 Permit Modification for the International Paper facility. EPA is in the process of modifying the Part 2 Permit; however, it is not ready for public review.
The pubic can review an electronic copy of the modification request and draft Part 1 Permit modification. Paper copies of the permit modification request, draft permit modification and supporting documents are available at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 E. 20th St., Joplin, MO, during their normal business hours, or the department's Elm Street Conference Center, Jefferson City, MO. An Open Records/ Sunshine Law Request will need to be submitted to review or obtain copies of the department's files.
Comments on the draft permit modification are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. We prepared a marked-up version of the current hazardous waste permit to clearly show what conditions are proposed for modification. Only the conditions being modified are open for public comment. All other conditions of the existing Part I Permit will remain in effect until the department or International Paper propose another permit modification or until new permits are issued. Written comments may be submitted by mail to Abby Sawyer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or by email to abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov. The department will review and respond to all written comments and questions received during the public comment period before a final decision is made.