Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection and the AGO

The Agriculture and Environment Division aggressively protects Missouri's natural resources. Attorneys take legal action to stop pollution of the state's air, water and soil through injunctions, fines, penalties and in the most serious cases, incarceration.

The division also works to protect and enhance agriculture and the quality of life for rural Missourians by enforcing the law and advocating responsible public policy.

Division attorneys represent the Department of Natural Resources and its constituent boards and commissions that regulate the use of the state's air, land and waters. The division is responsible for about 500 active enforcement cases, including administrative appeals before the DNR's commissions. Enforcement litigation is filed primarily in state courts to seek preliminary and permanent injunctions to ensure compliance with Missouri's environmental laws.

The division obtains civil penalties for the state and recovers costs and damages for the DNR. In 2007, the division recovered more than $176.9 million in penalties, damages and costs from polluters in cases in 85 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis.

Attorneys also have taken both civil and criminal action in federal court as a part of the Environmental Crimes Task Force with the U.S. attorney's office.

For more information on the Agriculture and Environment Division, please refer to the Agriculture and Environment Division's frequently asked questions page.