The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today referred Larry Owens, d.b.a. the Casa De Loco Winery in Camden County, to the Missouri Attorney General's Office to pursue legal action for wastewater violations.
Owens constructed and was operating a wastewater treatment facility without a Missouri State Operating Permit which is in violation of the Missouri Clean Water Law and its implementing regulations.
On Aug. 28, 2008 and Sept. 9, 2009, the department conducted inspections of the wastewater treatment facility serving the Casa De Loco Winery.
The winery is located west of Camdenton on Riverbird Lane off Lake Road 54-85 on the Big Niangua River. The river is a tributary of Lake of the Ozarks.
During the inspections, staff observed Owens was operating without a Missouri State Operating Permit. Staff also observed the treatment facility is in complete disrepair, completely covered with vegetation and severe corrosion throughout the treatment facility causing several of the operational units to malfunction.
The press release provided by DNR did not indicate what, if any actions were taken by the agency or any corrective measures implemented after the first inspection in 2008.
