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Concerned Citizens of Platte County, Inc. (CCPC)

May, 2008 Newsletter

Contents






Events





Buildex/Haydite Expansion - Community meeting - April 29 - 7pm - New Market Christian Church - Paula Webb - 450-3310

Meet Missouri Votes Conservation - May 1 - 5:30-8:30pm - Party room at Riverbend Condo's in River Market - 200 Main St., KCMO. Meet representatives of the premier environmental organization in Missouri that tracks and influences what happens in Jeff City. There will be food, drink and lots of fun! www.ccpcmo for more info.

CCPC Board Meeting - May 18 - 5pm - Debbie Woehrman's home in Camden Point - Contact Debbie for directions at dawoehrman@dstsystems.com.

Lake at Tomahawke Hearing - Platte County Planning & Zoning - June 10 - 7pm - Platte County Administration Building - 415 3rd St, Platte City MO - www.noto500homes.com

MO Renewable Energy Petition - Final push!

An initiative petition has been approved for circulation by the Sec. Of State that will require utilities to gradually source more power from renewables. About 125,000 signatures will be needed by May 4th to get it on the November ballot. Twenty- four states have renewable energy requirements – Missouri passed legislation last year that only recommends it. KCP&L has endorsed this legislation! More signatures are needed in Jackson County (MO 5th District). Visit www.renewmo.org for more info on where you can sign or come to our May 1st event for MO Votes Conservation(see events above).


Holcomb plant and the Kansas Legislature – One Last Defense!



The Kansas Legislature is poised to override the Governor’s veto of bills allowing the Sunflower Power Plants. Proponents of the bill are only one vote shy in the House and they have the needed votes in the Senate to override. Organizers are asking people to come to Topeka one last time to help sustain the veto. This Wednesday – April 30th, 9:15 am – 3rd floor of the Capitol. PBS Frontline will be filming this historic event. Visit www.gpace.org, www.climateandenergy.org, and www.kansascleanenergy.com for the latest info.

Platte County –




Buildex/Haydite Plant Expansion



In Platte County, near New Market Missouri, is located a rock quarry and rotary kiln operation owned by Buildex, Inc. producing a product called Haydite Expanded Shale Lightweight Aggregate. The product is a construction material used in the production of lightweight concrete masonry, lightweight structural concrete, asphalt chip seals and other uses.

Over the years, the operation has been a fairly good neighbor, but conditions have deteriorated since 2006 when huge volumes of dust began to be expelled from what we believe to be their bag house, bypassing pollution controls. Road conditions have also been poor with standing water in the ditches of Hwy 371 and gravel from the plant making driving dangerous and the road prone to flooding.

The company is purchasing bottom land across 371 Hwy to the west and is planning an expansion.

Neighbors are concerned about property values, stream destruction, continued dust and water problems. A community meeting is scheduled for April 29 - 7pm - New Market Christian Church – Paula Webb – 450-3310.

Lake at Tomahawke Update

Opposition to a 680 home subdivision at Hwy 92 and Winan Road called Lake at Tomahawke has stiff opposition from local residents. Their concerns are summarized at www.noto500homes.com. The case will be heard in Platte County Planning & Zoning – June 10 – 7pm – Platte County Administration Building - 415 3rd St, Platte City MO.


AECI Coal plant near Norborne, MO – Permit rescinded!



Last month we were informed the plant would be delayed – now AECI has dropped their hard won air permit altogether.


Missouri Legislation – Energy Efficiency Legislation Dead



Legislation to give utilities the same incentive to choose energy efficiency investments as new coal plants has been introduced in the house by the Republican Chair of the Utilities Committee. Unfortunately this legislation is dead. Hopefully we can come back with it next year and do a better job of explaining it and gaining support from the rest of the environmental community.

Lots of other good legislation is proposed to protect our property values from Confined Animal Feeding Operations, promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. Check out our website for a list of the bills we are watching… http://www.ccpcmo.org/tell/legislative1.html.


KC Won't get Ethanol Waiver



The Missouri Legislature mandated the use of 10% Ethanol in our gasoline last year. KC needs a waiver from this requirement because this will worsen our ozone problem. The Mid America Regional Council’s Air Quality Forum requested a waiver from the Governor’s office two years ago. So far he has refused. Related article at http://www.kansascity.com/344/story/554945.html.

The Governor has continued to ignore repeated requests and now it is too late. Even if we had received a waiver, most of the suppliers had already switched over to the blend and spent money on infrastructure. Interestingly, there has recently been a call in the legislature to repeal the mandate, although it hasn't gotten any traction.


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