Missouri Bicycle News

Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration called on Attorney General Jay Nixon today to drop a lawsuit against Ameren Corp. over the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers made the request in a letter he sent to Nixon’s office. Childers outlined five conditions Nixon should meet to help move settlement talks forward so Ameren can pay the state for damage from the reservoir breach.

Along with dropping the lawsuit, Childers said Nixon should decide soon whether he will file criminal charges against Ameren over the collapse.

“Nixon’s lawsuit and his threat of criminal charges have prevented the settlement from moving forward,” Childers wrote in the letter.

Bill Bryan, Nixon’s deputy chief of staff, responded to the letter late today, accusing Childers of hindering the settlement process.

Bryan said in a letter that he and Childers attended meetings recently during which they agreed on almost every point of a unified settlement offer to give Ameren.

Related:

News: Katy Trail included in Taum Sauk settlement negotiations

News: Settlement on Taum Sauk case close, says Ameren