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Smog Cited In Potential Project Stopper

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-883183.mp3

Kansas City, Kan. – An environmental watchdog organization has gone to federal district court to ask a Kansas judge to freeze a permit to build a giant rail yard and truck depot in Johnson County .

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did an assessment of the project last summer. The Natural Resources Defense Council doesn't think the job was thorough enough, considering possible health impact of diesel fumes from thousands of trucks expected at the cargo transfer site.

Melissa Lin Perrella is the Council's lead lawyer. She wants a full environmental impact study. In her words, "we had urged that the Army Corps do a more thorough study and they declined to do so. And they issued their position in December 2009."

The lawsuit addresses only air health issues. The suit contends that in 2009 Kansas found air quality in the metro area was already over federal ozone standards.

 

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