Big cuts for Missouri's local pollution control

ST. LOUIS (AP) - State funding cuts could have a big impact on air quality in the state's biggest cities.

In June as part of an effort to balance the state budget, Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed state funding for local air pollution control programs in the St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield areas. The cuts will save an estimated $1.2 million in the next fiscal year and $1.7 million a year afterward.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/os7i16 ) reports that some fear the cuts could make it harder for the St. Louis region to meet federal clean-air standards. St. Louis city will eliminate most of the 24 jobs in its air pollution control program.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will take over pollution control and says it can do the job with less money.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com