By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – A former Missouri Department of Natural Resources official is taking the blame for withholding a report that showed high bacteria levels at Lake of the Ozarks.
Joe Bindbeutel says he made the decision in May to delay release of the report that showed high levels of E. coli in the lake.
The former deputy director at the DNR says he didn't issue the report because he first wanted to know what was causing the bacteria problem and have a plan in place to deal with it.
The Kansas City Star reports that Bindbeutel's version of events does not end questions about the role of Gov. Jay Nixon's office in the controversy.
The governor and the DNR have denied Nixon knew of the high bacteria levels until several weeks after the test results were available.