The Missouri Sierra Club asked Gov. Matt Blunt on Wednesday to reappoint or replace Thomas Herrmann, the chairman of the Missouri Clean Water Commission. Herrmann’s last appointment to the Commission expired in April 2004.
The Clean Water Commission has a number of responsibilities, including developing the state’s water quality standards, developing a list of impaired waters, issuing permits limiting pollutant discharge and enforcing Missouri’s Clean Water Law. The governor appoints the commissioners for four-year terms, and the Missouri Senate must approve the appointments.
Herrmann, of Ballwin, was appointed to the Clean Water Commission in 1988 by Gov. John Ashcroft. Herrmann, a Democrat, was reappointed twice by Gov. Mel Carnahan and once by Gov. Bob Holden.
Ken Midkiff, chairman of the Missouri Sierra Club, said he has no objection to Herrmann and doesn’t have “anybody in mind at all” to replace him.
“This has gone three years,” Midkiff said. “Surely Gov. Blunt could have found somebody to replace Tom Herrmman or reappoint him. To my mind, (Gov. Blunt) has ignored his responsibility.”
Tom Kruzen, a Sierra Club Water Sentinels Program member from Mountain View, said he took the governor’s inaction as signaling a lack of commitment to protecting Missouri’s streams.
“These citizen commissions are fairly important,” Kruzen said. “They set the tone and the rules for the air and the water. The governor should not take this lightly. When things don’t happen at the top, they generally
don’t happen at the bottom.”
Herrmann said he was unconcerned with the governor’s inaction and wants to keep concentrated on his service on the commission.
“In my mind, I’ve served with distinction,” Herrmann said. “The Sierra Club is very well known for stirring the pot. I do enjoy the job, and I take it very seriously, as do all the other commissioners. I have no idea what the Sierra Club’s interest is other than hoping to make a headline.”
Jessica Robinson, spokeswoman for Blunt, said the governor has no immediate plans to reappoint or replace Herrmann.