Non-encapsulated foam flotation material that has broken away or has been discarded from boat docks is the largest source of man-made debris in Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. This material is not only an eyesore, but large chunks can also be a hazard to navigation. Adopt-the-Shoreline volunteers remove about 200 tons of foam flotation material from the lake’s shoreline each year.
AmerenUE banned any new installation of non-encapsulated foam in 1995. To ease the impact on dock owners, the company did not require the immediate removal of existing foam if the flotation was still in good condition. Then, in 2003, AmerenUE set a final deadline for replacement of all non-encapsulated foam flotation.
Dock owners now have until Dec. 31, 2008, to replace all non-encapsulated foam flotation material with encapsulated floats approved by AmerenUE. For information on what types of flotation material are acceptable, see AmerenUE’s Dock Specification Guidelines.
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