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Session of 2000
          House Concurrent Resolution No. 5053           By Committee on Environment           1-19          

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10             A  CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION urging the Kansas Department of
11             Transportation to develop and implement a system for the inventory-
12             ing and replanting of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses as a part of all
13             highway projects.
14      
15             WHEREAS,  The Kansas Department of Transportation during high-
16       way projects routinely and without accountability destroys Kansas native
17       hardwood trees, deciduous trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses; and
18             WHEREAS,  Such destruction has taken place and is taking place in
19       the eastern half of Kansas on United States highway 24 east of Tonga-
20       noxie, United States highway 75 north of Topeka to Holton, United States
21       highway 24 west of Wamego, the Oakland Expressway just northeast of
22       Topeka with additional destruction planned for a linkup with the Kansas
23       Turnpike, Interstate highway 435 on Kansas City's west side, United
24       States highway 50 west of Emporia all the way to Newton, United States
25       highway 75 north of Independence, Kansas highway 92 west of Oskaloosa,
26       and such destruction may yet occur on Kansas wetlands on the Kansas
27       highway 10 bypass around Lawrence, and United States highway 59 be-
28       tween Lawrence and Ottawa; and
29             WHEREAS,  All game and nongame species of Kansas including birds,
30       furbearers, rabbits, squirrels, deer and turkey are totally dependent on
31       these trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses for survival; and
32             WHEREAS,  The numbers of neotropical birds in eastern Kansas and
33       quail are declining dramatically; and
34             WHEREAS,  Trees bind the soil against water and wind erosion, pro-
35       duce oxygen critical to the survival of all living things, provide critical
36       wildlife habitat, reduce noise, cleanse the air of pollutants and produce
37       windbreaks: Now, therefore,
38             Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
39       the Senate concurring therein: That the Kansas Legislature urges the
40       Kansas Department of Transportation to develop and implement a system
41       for the inventorying and replanting of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses
42       as a part of all highway projects; and
43             Be it further resolved: That the Kansas Department of Transportation

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  1       work in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
  2       and Kansas forest service to develop and implement such system for the
  3       inventorying and replanting of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses.