On Sept. 9, the citizens’ group SLUDGE, LLC (Stop Land Use Damaging Our Ground and Environment) voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“We [originally] brought about our suit because the DNR was not making Denali have the proper permits to operate the waste lagoons in Newton and McDonald County,” said spokesperson Vallerie Steele in a post made on the group’s Facebook page.

Steele said because of the new regulations passed in Mo. House Bill 2134/1956, they are dismissing their suit.

“[The DNR is] not issuing permits for Denali to use the lagoons; they are making them empty and haul away the waste; and they are not allowing it be spread in Missouri,” Steele said. “We see this as a huge win, one that we could not have [accomplished] without a lot of hard work from our committee and support from our community..

“Going forward, there is still much work to be done. Legislation that passed this year was a good start, but by no means a resolution.”

Steele said the group will be focusing on ways to keep out-of-state sludge waste of any kind from being spread in Missouri.

“Missouri has been turned into a dumping ground for the benefit of keep other states clean and free of pollution from harmful waste – for the financial benefit of the waste-hauling companies,” Steele said.

The majority of the food-processing waste and biosolids being applied to Missouri land is from out of state, Steele said.