POWER PLANT SITING LAW IN KANSAS

The Kansas Natural Resource Council has joined with other environmental groups in Kansas to call for improvements in how new electric power plants are sited.  With a number of very large coal-fired power plants being proposed for construction in our state, we must make the best decisions possible on the need for them, and where and when they are built.  Only a thorough and transparent siting process, with full public involvement, can meet that need, and we do not have that process now.  We invite the participation of all interested parties to reach this goal.

The following statement was sent to key leaders
in the Kansas legislature and Governor Sebelius' Cabinet.

Joint Statement from Kansas environmental groups to
Kansas decision-makers regarding power plant siting laws:

Currently, over 3,500 megawatts of new coal-fired electric power plants are being planned that will have an impact on the people and the environment of Kansas. They are proposed to be located at four locations across the state and one site immediately across the Missouri River, midway between Leavenworth and Atchison. We believe Kansas citizens, Kansas communities and the Kansas environment are being unnecessarily placed at risk because adequate consideration is not being given to the environmental effects of where these facilities will be located and pollutants such as airborne mercury that will come from these facilities. The siting of these facilities has statewide effects and therefore the primary responsibility for making these siting decisions should reside with the state and not be delegated to local units of government.

In addition, there are many "wind farm" projects in various planning and development stages across the state. While only a small proportion of the wind farm proposals may actually move forward to become a reality, and though the "Heart of the Flint Hills" has been declared off limits to wind farms, these proposals still create environmental impact concerns associated with siting them.

We the undersigned organizations, representing a wide range of environmentalists, hunters, anglers and concerned citizens, call for the Kansas legislature to enact effective, uniform, statewide siting requirements for new electric power generation facilities of any type. These siting requirements should protect public health, preserve communities and protect sensitive natural areas such as wildlife refuges, large wetlands, native prairies and major bird migration corridors. These requirements should be regarded as a baseline, and local units of government should have the power to set stricter siting requirements than this baseline.

Until such improvements are made, we call on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to make every effort to protect the natural resources of our state by using their existing review powers in the current permitting processes.

Kansas Natural Resource Council
Bob Haughawout - President
PO Box 2635
Topeka, KS 66601
Email - bob@knrc.ws
Phone – (316) 265-0767
http://www.knrc.ws

Friends of the Kaw
Laura Calwell - Kansas Riverkeeper
PO Box 1612
Lawrence KS 66044-3502
Email - riverkeeper@kansasriver.com
Phone: 913-963-3460 or 785-312-7200
Fax: 913-677-2484
http://www.kansasriver.com

Wichita Audubon Society
Patty Marlett - President
P.O. Box 47607
Wichita, KS 67201
Email - was@wichitaaudubon.org  
Phone: 316-942-2164 http://www.wichitaaudubon.org

Kansas Wildlife Federation
Steve Sorensen - President
PO Box 771282
Wichita, KS 67277-1282
Email - info@kswildlife.org
Phone: 316-214-3001
Fax: 316-755-0321
http://www.kswildlife.org/

Burroughs Audubon Society
of Greater Kansas City
Mike Stoakes - President
21509 SW Woods Chapel Rd.
Blue Springs, MO 64015
Email Contact: Jill Dewitt
Phone: 816-554-1956
http://burroughs.org

For a pdf version of the Joint Statement, click here: