U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., has agreed to a settlement to address unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage and to reduce pollution levels in urban stormwater.
The settlement, lodged March 21, 2013 in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., requires the Unified Government to implement improved operation and maintenance programs for its sewer system, perform initial work to address sewer overflows, and implement an improved Storm Water Management Plan.
The Unified Government will also develop a proposed overflow control plan for the sewer system by September 2016 for approval by EPA.
Unified Government’s implementation of that plan, once approved, will be embodied in a subsequent judicial settlement.
“We are pleased that this settlement will result in the vigorous efforts by the Unified Government to improve its wastewater and stormwater programs,” said Karl Brooks, EPA regional administrator. “These programs will provide significant health and environmental benefits to the citizens of Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County. Of special note are the immediate actions by the Unified Government to address sewer overflows in the northeast area of the city where there is a high proportion of low income and minority residents.”
Friday, March 22, 2013
Friday, June 1, 2012
EPA's move out of KCK made official after court doesn't hear UG argument
By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan21@gmail.com
The Federal District Court for Kansas will not hear the Unified Government's legal challenge of the General Services Administration's decision to move the EPA Region 7 headquarters out of Kansas City, Kan.
The decision by the court means the EPA's move to Lenexa, Kan., is all but official, as the UG has no other legal avenue to pursue.
With the court's decision, the county has now turned it's attention to recruiting new tenants for the building, located at 5th and Minnesota Avenue.
“New tenants and uses for the building will be found,” said Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon.
Wyandotte County Economic Development Council President Greg Kindle said there's already been interest expressed from potential tenants and business partners.
“We have had strong interest in that facility from several potential new tenants and know that it will continue to be a hub for employment in the future,” said Greg Kindle, President of the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council. “While it’s unfortunate that the EPA employees who have called Wyandotte County home will be leaving our community, there are few buildings of this size and quality in the region, this vacancy provides us with an opportunity to attract a unique employer to the community.”
The building, owned by UrbanAmerica, was built in 1999 for the sole purpose of hosting the EPA.
After the move was announced, the UG contacted the White House about the decision and later filed a lawsuit against the GSA, alleging two Presidential Executive Orders were violated.
In the lawsuit, the county requested the Federal Court to cancel the deal in Lenexa and to restart the selection process for the EPA's home.
“I am discouraged the same agency that chose to waste $800,000 tax dollars on a GSA party in Las Vegas is now wasting even more tax dollars by abandoning downtown KCK and moving the EPA Headquarters to the suburbs,” Reardon said.
The move from KCK to Lenexa is expected to be wrapped up by this fall.
The Federal District Court for Kansas will not hear the Unified Government's legal challenge of the General Services Administration's decision to move the EPA Region 7 headquarters out of Kansas City, Kan.
The decision by the court means the EPA's move to Lenexa, Kan., is all but official, as the UG has no other legal avenue to pursue.
With the court's decision, the county has now turned it's attention to recruiting new tenants for the building, located at 5th and Minnesota Avenue.
“New tenants and uses for the building will be found,” said Unified Government Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon.
Wyandotte County Economic Development Council President Greg Kindle said there's already been interest expressed from potential tenants and business partners.
“We have had strong interest in that facility from several potential new tenants and know that it will continue to be a hub for employment in the future,” said Greg Kindle, President of the Wyandotte County Economic Development Council. “While it’s unfortunate that the EPA employees who have called Wyandotte County home will be leaving our community, there are few buildings of this size and quality in the region, this vacancy provides us with an opportunity to attract a unique employer to the community.”
The building, owned by UrbanAmerica, was built in 1999 for the sole purpose of hosting the EPA.
After the move was announced, the UG contacted the White House about the decision and later filed a lawsuit against the GSA, alleging two Presidential Executive Orders were violated.
In the lawsuit, the county requested the Federal Court to cancel the deal in Lenexa and to restart the selection process for the EPA's home.
“I am discouraged the same agency that chose to waste $800,000 tax dollars on a GSA party in Las Vegas is now wasting even more tax dollars by abandoning downtown KCK and moving the EPA Headquarters to the suburbs,” Reardon said.
The move from KCK to Lenexa is expected to be wrapped up by this fall.
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