Appeals court rules landfill site approval legal

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A citizens' group plans to appeal a ruling that appears to open the way for a regional landfill in southern Kansas. <br/><br/>A trial judge ruled last year that the Harper County

Sunday, August 22nd 2004, 10:36 am

By: News On 6

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ A citizens' group plans to appeal a ruling that appears to open the way for a regional landfill in southern Kansas.

A trial judge ruled last year that the Harper County Commission ignored public opinion when it approved a site for the landfill. The Kansas Court of Appeals has now overturned that ruling.

Attorney Jeff Emerson represents the citizens' group that sued the county commission. Emerson says the group will probably ask the Kansas Supreme Court to hear the case.

Opponents of the Harper County site fear the landfill would pollute a nearby river and bring heavy truck traffic.

The case is being followed closely in several southern counties.

Trash from Sedgwick County is now hauled 150 miles to Oklahoma. Work has already started on a landfill near Wichita. But the county's trash contractor says the regional landfill would make a new dump near Wichita unnecessary.