Comment period on Kanopolis feedlot application nears close

   Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials have temporarily rejected a permit request by a  local cattle operation to expand its facility. 

   Earlier this year, Ed Schneider with 4 S Feeders, of Kanopolis, asked state health officials to reissue a  modified permit, allowing the operation to expand its facility.

   According to the application, the permit  would be issued for a confined animal feeding operation for 3,999 head of cattle weighing more than  700 pounds - an increase in permitted number of cattle from the previous permit. Other modifications  included an additional 11.1 acres of pens, feed storage area, a settling basin and a second earthen  wastewater retention structure. 

   During a June 5 public hearing, several residents turned out to oppose the permit, and offered testimony.  Only one individual spoke in favor of Schneider’s request. 

   Nearly five months after the hearing, a Nov. 1 letter from Erich Glave, Bureau of Environmental Field  Services director, stated the permit application and proposed modifications to the facility did not meet  KDHE requirements. As a result, state officials said they would not reissue the permit at this time. 

   However, Glave wrote that revised plans were received, and after review, would be placed on public  notice for 30 days to allow additional comment. Issues and concerns raised during the previous public  comment period, both written and provided during testimony, and any additional comments and  concerns received would be addressed at the end of the public comment period, Glave wrote.  

   Gerald Kratochvil, a KDHE spokesperson, said the permit revisions were reviewed and approved Nov. 12. 

   The draft permit, Kratochvil said, is scheduled to go on public notice Dec. 20, which includes the  standard 30-day comment period. 

   Copies of the permit application, the proposed KDHE permit, and other pertinent documents may be  viewed at, or requested by writing to: Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Livestock Waste  Management Section, 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 420, Topeka, KS 66612- 1367 or by telephone at 785- 296-6432.