Taum Sauk settlement talks moving forward

According to a Columbia Tribune article, discussions over a settlement for the Taum Sauk disaster are continuing:

Three state agencies are close to offering Ameren a unified settlement deal that will outline how the utility can pay for damages associated with the collapse, said Missouri Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Kurt Schaefer.

Schaefer said the settlement offer is being developed by DNR, Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Schaefer said he is scheduled to meet with Ameren officials to discuss the settlement in the near future, although he did not specify a date.

Ameren spokesman Tim Fox said the company will continue to participate in settlement talks amid the new investigation from the Missouri Public Service Commission. He also said the investigation would not hinder cleanup efforts at the state park devastated by a flood of 1.3 billion gallons of water from the reservoir breach.

Ameren Chief Operating Officer Thomas Voss "has been consistent in saying that we cannot commit to rebuild Taum Sauk Reservoir until all issues with the state are resolved. However, we have every intention of continuing talks with the state and continuing work on Johnsons’ Shut-Ins State Park," Fox said in an e-mail.

The settlement discussions so far have included provision for trail use of a portion of the Rock Island Railroad corridor, which is controled by Ameren, and which would allow connection of the Katy Trail to the Kansas City area.

Please spend two minutes emailing Ameren and state officials, encouraging them to continue to include the Katy Trail Connection in the negotiations.