Ch. 196 Resolutions 1663
WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has a responsibility to review periodically National Ambient
Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) and EPA has proposed a more stringent
standard for ground level ozone and added a separate standard for
par-
ticulate matter (PM2.5) to the existing ground PM10 standard;
and
WHEREAS, The State of Kansas and Kansas businesses and
citizens
have worked hard to maintain and improve air quality, with the
knowledge
that clean air is good for the environment, the economy and
people's
health and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Kansas is very proud of its continually improving air
qual-
ity, with the entire state in attainment for all air quality
standards and the
Kansas City metropolitan area among the largest cities in the
United
States in attainment for these standards; and
WHEREAS, There is very little existing PM2.5 monitoring data,
and
there is considerable uncertainty about the scientific validity of
the the-
ories, data and conclusions upon which the proposed NAAQS are
based
and the cost and feasibility of compliance; and
WHEREAS, Agriculture is the number one industry of this state
and
the additional PM2.5 standard being considered could result in
many
more nonattainment areas in Kansas because of the impact of normal
and
approved agricultural practices; and
WHEREAS, Expensive pollution prevention programs would
impose
a significant economic burden on the citizens of the State,
especially in
rural Kansas, without commensurate air quality benefits and without
a
practical means to achieve the additional standard or the ability
to attain
compliance; and
WHEREAS, a more stringent ozone standard could result in the
Kan-
sas City metropolitan area's being designated as ``nonattainment''
simply
because of a change in the standard, not because of a change in air
quality,
thus imposing significant economic, administrative and regulatory
bur-
dens on more citizens, businesses and local governments in this
state; and
1664 Resolutions Ch. 196
WHEREAS, The states of Kansas and Missouri have designated
the
Mid-America Regional Council to work cooperatively with all
stakehold-
ers to recommend a plan to maintain and improve Kansas City air
quality
and the Council has now submitted recommendations for a
comprehen-
sive program to further improve air quality in the Kansas City
metropol-
itan area; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Environment is
monitor-
ing air quality to determine the levels of naturally occurring
particulate
matter in the air of this state; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the
House of Rep-
resentatives concurring therein: That the Mid-America Regional
Coun-
cil is commended for its public participation process, which
included all
stakeholders in the development of its recommendations, and is
encour-
aged to continue to include all affected stakeholders when
beginning con-
sideration of implementation of its recommendations; and
Be it further resolved: That the Legislature supports all
current air
quality standards and opposes a separate standard for PM2.5 at this
time
and opposes any change in the ozone standard until such time as
the
positive benefits of any new air quality programs in the Kansas
City met-
ropolitan area have been realized; and
Be it further resolved: That the Legislature urges the
EPA to continue
studying the need for changes in the National Ambient Air Quality
Stan-
dards but to approve any change only after a cost benefit analysis
and a
risk assessment, similar to those required for environmental rules
and
regulations pursuant to K.S.A. 77-416 and amendments thereto,
dem-
onstrating the environmental benefit and economic impacts for
each
unique air shed such as the high plains of Kansas; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of State be
directed to send
enrolled copies of this resolution to the Executive Director of the
Mid-
America Regional Council, to the Administrator of the United States
En-
vironmental Protection Agency for consideration as written
testimony for
Docket Nos. A-95-54 and A-95-58 and to each member of the
Kansas
congressional delegation.
Adopted by the House April 1, 1997
Adopted by the Senate April 2, 1997