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EPA Reviewing Air Permit in Kansas Coal Plant

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07 February 2011, 5:06 PM

Brian Smith

EPA Reviewing Air Permit in Kansas Coal Plant

Rushed-through process finally gets scrutiny

Tom Gross, an official with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is frustrated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Gross has been publicly complaining that EPA requirements to use the latest pollution-mitigating technologies are annoying. "The whole process was incredibly frustrating," Gross told the House Energy and Utilities Committee. "We told them a few words we can't repeat," reported the Lawrence-Journal World.

Late last week, the EPA issued a letter questioning KDHE’s air-quality permit issued in December, which will allow expansion of the coal-fired power plant by Sunflower Electric. The permit generated massive public opposition. For one thing, three-quarters of the new capacity, or 695 megawatts, would be reserved for use in Colorado while Kansans get all the pollution.

It's not yet clear if the $2.8 billion project is in jeopardy, but this turn of events is being closely followed by the Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice.

As Earthjustice attorney Amanda Goodin told the Associated Press, "This EPA letter points out the most obvious failings of the permit. I think Kansas is just looking for a way to make this permit more lax."

(Hat Tip to Pitch Weekly)