A former Missouri environmental official said Tuesday that he delayed publicizing test results showing high bacteria levels in the Lake of the Ozarks so that the agency could develop an improvement plan.
Former Department of Natural Resources deputy director Joe Bindbeutel testified before a Senate environment committee investigating the delay that he thought it would have been irresponsible to publicize last May’s bacteria test results without explaining what they meant and being able to present a plan for cleaning the Lake of the Ozarks.
‘‘Let me be very clear, I made the decision,’’ said Bindbeutel, who left the agency before the plan could be implemented to take a gubernatorial appointment. Gov. Jay Nixon pulled that appointment in October because of controversy over the delayed test results.
Water samples were taken May 26, and Department of Natural Resources officials had final test results on May 29 that showed high levels of E. coli in numerous locations. The data wasn’t publicly released until June 26 when lower E. coli levels from later testing also were reported. The tests were part of a five-year environmental study funded by St. Louis-based utility Ameren Corp., which owns the dam creating the Lake of the Ozarks.
Initially, the governor’s office had said that it didn’t learn about the E. coli tests until several days before it was publicly revealed. But a gubernatorial aide later acknowledged he was told about the high E. coli from a former DNR official sooner. And a Nixon spokesman has said he knew about that conversation.
The delayed reporting triggered the Senate investigation. Tuesday’s hearing gave senators their first opportunity to question how DNR officials handled water tests, but it unearthed little new information over nearly five hours of testimony.
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