JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Gary Romine, R-Farmington, was recently appointed chairman of the Missouri Lead Industry Employment, Economic Development and Environmental Remediation Task Force, which was established this session by Senate Concurrent Resolution 15.

The task force is charged with making recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to promote and develop a clean lead industry in Missouri and the economic impact of such an effort. The group will also examine remediating environmental settlements.

“We obviously now know the dangers of using lead in consumer products and how harmful the waste from lead mining can be, and we will never allow something like that to happen again,” said Sen. Romine. “But the lead industry has changed drastically in the last 30 years. We’ve learned how it can be used safely, such as in industrial parts and the casting of metals. And, lead can now be mined in a way that poses next to no health risks for workers or nearby communities.”

“Lead is still an incredibly valuable resource, and in high demand throughout the world, and we happen to live in a state with an abundance of it,” continued Sen. Romine. “We’re missing an incredible opportunity if we don’t at least look at ways to encourage the growth of an environmentally responsible lead industry, which has the potential to create hundreds of jobs, especially in southeast Missouri, and promote economic development throughout the state.”

Almost 200 years ago, southeast Missouri was known as the lead capitol of the United States, with the area commonly referred to as the Lead Belt. Many towns and cities in the area were founded in large part because of the mining industry.

The task force chaired by Sen. Romine will look at ways to encourage growth in the state’s lead industry through environmentally safe ways and evaluate the possible economic impact.
The group will issue its recommendations to the General Assembly during the 2014 session.

For more information on Sen. Romine’s legislative actions, visit his Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/romine.