JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed lawsuit on Friday against a Dallas County man for allegedly violating Missouri's air conservation laws.

John P. Bennett, a resident of Buffalo, was named as the defendant in the lawsuit. During an inspection by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Bennett was allegedly found burning demolition waste, construction waste and tires without a permit.

"We all have not only a moral obligation, but also a legal obligation, to serve as stewards of our environment," Koster said. "When people violate our laws by polluting the air and harming our quality of life, this office will not stand idly by."

The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each violation of the law, an injunction requiring Bennett to comply with the Missouri Air Conservation Law and all costs related to the case.

"Missouri's Air Conservation Law was enacted to protect both citizens' health and our environment," Koster said, during the September announcement of the judgment. "The attorney general's office will work to ensure these laws are followed and violations are corrected."