June 16, 2025, Update for Urge MoDOT to Construct a Sound Wall Along Highway 270 for Noise Reduction

I received previously requested records from MoDOT for project 6U1045B (the Page AVE Flyover and I-270 additional lanes) on May 12, 2025. MODOT made records (on project 6U1045B) available within 14 days. MoDOT closed my request regarding project 6U1045B with a statement that all records have been provided; therefore, your document request is complete. The electronic records for project 6U1045B contain a statement about a future sound wall study. However, this set of MoDOT provided documents for project 6U1045B does not include a sound wall study or assessment. 

On June 8, 2025, I received a letter from Director Hassinger (see my Google Drive https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cn8Q_75yQfsxD01RTxDwv9-g3rblwiRN/view?usp=drivesdk The main points in Director Hassinger's letter concerned a local contact and the statement, “MoDOT does not participate in stand-alone retrofit noise barrier projects on existing highways. Unless there is a highway expansion project that triggers a new noise study, MoDOT will not perform a study or construct sound barriers along I-270 between Olive BLVD and MO 364. If MoDOT has a future project that would add lanes or reconstruct the interchange a noise study would be completed at that time.” 

I immediately emailed MS. Locke (in the local North County MoDOT office) requesting additional records concerning projects J6I1978 and J6I1830B. I also ask for a copy of the sound study referenced by Director Hassinger (see Google Drive link for letter to MS. Locke https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wrwVMxbZPIxVLkTZJbkzFaN-6SzeLYAB/view?usp=drivesdk Based on Director Hassinger’s assertion in his letter, this effort to mitigate sound on I-270 now falls under the EPA’s responsibility. Therefore, I emailed a notice to the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) (see my Google Drive for a copy of the letter https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bf19YxKdBc-ZQkpAK72HWmjxx9B8bLru/view?usp=drivesdk 

Next Step:

I will give MS. Locke and the OECA/EPA until July 15, 2025, to respond to my letters. Please do not be discouraged. I am in this campaign until a judge tells me it is over. This petition is now a national campaign. I need you to continue asking anyone you associate with to sign the petition, https://www.change.org/Orchard_Lakes_Sound_Wall

Point of Interest:

On June 19, 2025, to gain more knowledge, I will attend an informal discussion by Quiet Communities (https://www.quietcommunities.org about noise and current law. This informal virtual conversation will introduce participants to existing regulations at the federal, state, and local levels relevant to noise and the challenges associated with implementing and enforcing laws. If you want to join Quiet Communities, you may want to join this virtual discussion..

I need your support to accomplish the goal of a sound wall (or mitigation) on I-270. Keep up the good work. Thank you!