The Department of Natural Resources is composed of the Office of Director, Administrative Support and four programmatic divisions.  These four programmatic divisions are the Field Services Division, the Division of Environmental Quality, the Division of State Parks, and the Division of Geology and Land Survey. 

The Office of Director is the central management unit within the Department of Natural Resources.  Responsibilities include coordinating, developing, and implementing the department’s strategic planning efforts, policy research, legislative initiatives, ombudsmen and employee relations activities of the department.  The Director’s Office is responsible for providing overall direction for the department.

Administrative Support includes the functions of budget development, financial resource allocations, internal audit, accounting, human resources, procurement, grants management and general services.

The Missouri Energy Center is a nonregulatory entity that works to help ensure adequate energy supplies and to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy resources and technologies.  The Energy Center tracks and reports on energy prices and supplies; collect and report Missouri energy data; conduct energy policy research and analysis; and maintain Missouri’s plan for energy emergencies.  The Center also gives technical and financial assistance for energy
efficiency and renewable energy projects to state and local governments, school districts, and other consumers.  In addition, the Energy Center supports market research and demonstration projects that advance the use of clean, domestic energy resources and technologies.

Water Resources staff provides information for Missouri’s comprehensive water needs by examining surface water use and availability, monitoring and providing technical assistance regarding drought and flood conditions, preparing lake capacity and future supply studies and utilizing stream gages to provide water quantity evaluations to determine community sustainable yields.  Staff chair the Climate and Weather Subcommittee of the Statewide Drought Assessment Committee, are principal authors of the Missouri Drought Plan and maintain a record of the major users of water in the state.  Water Resources also administers the provisions of the Missouri Dam and Reservoir Safety Law.  The department regulates all nonfederal, nonagricultural dams 35 feet and higher through inspections, registration and construction permits and inspections. Water Resources completes regional water assessments that evaluate water problems, needs, and opportunities and focus efforts on watershed priorities.

The Soil and Water Conservation Program implements the policies of the Soil and Water Districts Commission.  Services are provided through the program and local soil and water districts throughout the State of Missouri.  In addition, grants and loans are provided to landowners for land practices that reduce soil erosion in the State of Missouri.  The Soil and Water Conservation Program (SWCP) administers voluntary programs developed by the Soil and Water Districts Commission and funded by the Soil and Water Sales Tax to conserve Missouri’s soil and water resources for agricultural production.  The SWCP staff assist the 114 soil and water conservation districts throughout the state in the reduction of agricultural erosion and sediment runoff to maintain the land’s agricultural productivity.

The Field Services Division has been organized to implement environmental protection and improvement services throughout the State of Missouri.  The division is responsible for providing on-site visits to permitted facilities, compliance assistance activities, inspections, sampling and sample analysis, environmental emergency response, investigating reported environmental complaints, cleanup of controlled substances (primarily wastes associated with methamphetamine production), and managing the Clandestine Drug Lab Collection Station Program.

The Division of Environmental Quality oversees the state’s environmental programs in the areas of water pollution and public drinking water.  The Division of Environmental Quality also oversees the state’s environmental programs in the areas of air pollution control, hazardous waste management, solid waste management, and mining reclamation.  Water pollution control activities are implemented by state laws, regulations, and policies developed by the Clean Water Commission to maintain and improve water quality.  The Public Drinking Water Program strives to ensure that the public receives drinking water free from harmful levels of contaminants.  Low interest loans are provided through the Water Pollution and Public Drinking Water Program’s State Revolving Loan Programs to communities to assist them in financing the upgrade of their water pollution control and drinking water facilities.

The Air Pollution Control Program provides staff support to the Air Conservation Commission which is responsible for developing policies to maintain and enhance the state’s air quality.  Protecting public health and the environment by requiring proper management of solid waste is the responsibility of the Solid Waste Management Program.  Grants are also provided by this program to assist the local solid waste districts and other parties in reducing the waste stream of Missouri.  Funds are also provided through the solid waste program for the clean up of abandoned waste tires sites.  State law requires oversight of hazardous waste practices from the point of generation through final disposal. This activity is managed through the Hazardous Waste Program.  Hazardous waste generators are required to register with the Hazardous Waste Program and the movement of waste is tracked through a manifest and quarterly reporting system.  In addition to regulating the management of current hazardous waste production the program is also responsible for the clean up of hazardous waste sites that have been abandoned.  Efforts are undertaken to identify responsible parties in order to recover the costs of the cleanup.  The Land Reclamation Program provides staff support and technical assistance to the Land Reclamation Commission.  Undertaking remedial clean up of abandoned mining operations is a primary function of the Land Reclamation Program.  In addition, the program is responsible for assuring the permitting and regulation of existing mining operations in the State of Missouri to ensure mining operations are managed in an environmentally responsible manner.

The Division of State Parks manages the many recreational, cultural, and historical resources of the Missouri state park system.  State Parks also administers programs to promote outdoor recreation statewide.  These activities are accomplished through grant programs.  The mission of the Division of State Parks is to preserve and interpret the state’s most outstanding natural features; to preserve and interpret the state’s most outstanding cultural landmarks; and to provide compatible recreational opportunities in these areas.  The division manages 83 state parks and historical sites plus the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry.  These state parks and historic sites are scattered throughout the state, each containing unique and diverse natural and cultural resources.  The park system also includes five district offices, and five support programs.

The Division of Geology and Land Survey’s mission is to investigate the state’s geology and apply technical knowledge to environmental decisions; to determine the character and availability of the state’s energy and mineral resources; to restore and maintain the original land survey monuments and maintain a repository of land survey records.  Another major responsibility of the division is to maintain the United States Public Land Survey System (USPLSS).  The corners of the USPLSS are the framework from which all surveyors and property owners must rely for the determination of all land boundaries.

The Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority (EIERA), under Chapter 260, RSMo is an independent, self-supporting, quasi-governmental agency assigned to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Due to the special independent status as “a body corporate and politic,” the authority is able to issue tax-exempt bonds and utilize fees charged for issuance of its bonds and notes.  The authority is empowered to conduct environmental and energy research and development activities, develop alternative methods of financing environmental and energy projects, and assist Missouri communities, organizations, and businesses in obtaining low-cost funds and other financial assistance for projects related to the authority purpose.

All of the departments in Missouri state government contain at least one administrative division or unit which provides support in fiscal management, accounting, personnel and training, research and data processing. Because of similarity of these duties and because each department only has one page of print space, these units are not described in detail.

For more information on these divisions, contact the department director.