Koster to Investigate Withholding of E.Coli Report

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will review a complaint that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources withheld a report showing unsafe levels of E. coli in the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri Clean Water Campaign, which is part of the Sierra Club, had urged Koster to investigate allegations that state officials refused to turn over public documents. The lake water was tested May 26 but the findings weren't released until June 26.

A DNR spokeswoman initially told The Kansas City Star the report wasn't released earlier because of concerns it could harm tourism and business around the lake.

The department has since said the report should have been released immediately.

Clean Water Campaign Chairman Ken Midkiff said Friday that not releasing the study violated state open records laws.