Hunt/Midwest Sunflower Quarry, February 20, 2005

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Please attend an important meeting on February 24th. See below...

This picture was taken in 1990 and shows the beautiful landscape in Northwest Johnson County , adjacent to and on the east side of Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.  This picture was taken before the Hunt/Midwest Sunflower Quarry began quarry operation in January 1991. 

This picture was taken in 2002, a year after the Hunt/Midwest Sunflower Quarry's permit expired.  The destruction of the landscape has continued to expand over the 4+ years since the conditional use permit expired in January 2001.  The quarry pit and devastation covers a larger area today than in this 2002 picture.

Please attend this important meeting on February 24th. We need your presence to show support for our position of closing down the quarry.

On Thursday, February 24th at 2:00 p.m. in the Johnson County Administration Building (third floor Board Hearing Room), 111 S. Cherry in downtown Olathe, the Board of County Commissioners will have a board meeting to discuss and receive public comments on the Hunt/Midwest Sunflower Quarry application for a new Conditional Use Permit.  This is the only item on the agenda at 2:00 p.m. This is your final opportunity to submit comments or other information to the Board of County Commissioners to consider about the quarry.   The record on this quarry item will be closed on February 24th after the comment period. The decision on the quarry will have a huge impact on the entire Northwest area of Johnson County.   The quarry owns and leases about 810 acres.  Currently, over 125 acres have been destroyed and the quarry is applying for a conditional use permit to destroy 179 more acres! Here are only ten of the many reasons that Sierra Club Kanza Group Executive Committee members have testified at public meetings in opposition to the quarry and requested that decision makers deny the conditional use permit.  You can help win this battle by attending the Thursday, February 24th BOCC meeting at 2:00 p.m.

1.  The Hunt/Midwest Quarry has destroyed over 125 acres of natural habitat for wildlife.  Within the quarry site are forest, wetlands/stream, and grassland/prairie.  The quarry pit is over 100 feet deep and has drastically and permanently changed the natural contour of the landscape.  The quarry is applying for a new CUP to expand the quarry an additional 179 acres to the north, south and east.

2.  Although Hunt/Midwest was required to reclaim the land during its first 10 year conditional use permit; almost no reclamation was completed before January 2001 when the CUP expired.  This demonstrates a lack of respect and appreciation for the natural environment.  In addition, if they had reclaimed the land, it would not have been returned to its original environment. Their reclamation agreement provides only enough top soil is placed in the pit to grow grass or groundcover again.  The quarry made permanent changes to the landscape, and the beautiful rolling hills and creek valleys have been destroyed forever by this company.

3.   As part of their buffer plan, Hunt/Midwest planted seedlings that were acquired from the Kansas State Forest Service.  Although Hunt/Midwest began operation in 1991, the seedlings in the buffer area were not planted until April 2002 (after the original CUP expired).  To make matters worse, 85% of the seedlings died.  This is another example of the lack of respect for the environment, understanding of the benefits to wildlife, and appreciation for nature.

4.  Much of the Hunt/Midwest Quarry land is adjacent to Kill Creek.  This beautiful creek meanders northward through two well defined valleys with numerous tributaries as it moves northward towards the Kansas River approximately three miles from the quarry site.  A quarry is not compatible with the peaceful environment of the creek.

5.    Hunt/Midwest Quarry has a permit to remove up to 7.5 million gallons of water from Kill Creek.  To remove this volume of water, a gravel road to the base of the river was built.  This road destroyed the natural beauty of that portion of the creek.  The water removed from Kill Creek is used to wash down dusty trucks, roads, machinery, and rock stockpiles.  Then, the water containing sediment and silt is allowed to run back into Kill Creek creating problems for aquatic species in Kill Creek.

6.  The riparian area of Kill Creek is a woodland cover.  There is a diversity of wildlife within these habitats.  There is a variety of vegetation and aquatic floral species located along the creek.  The quarry operation has caused much of the wildlife to leave because their habitat has been reduced or destroyed.

7.  The Hunt/ Midwest Mining operation is next to Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.  Although over 2000 acres will eventually be parkland, we are hopeful that even more open space/green space will be available for Johnson Countians and Kansans to enjoy as decisions are made for the future land use of SFAAP.  In addition, Johnson County Parks and Recreation 2020 plan shows streamway trails along Kill Creek. The limestone quarry is not compatible with the current or future parkland/open space/green space for SFAAP or the Kill Creek Streamway Trails.

8.  On the south side of the quarry property line is the Kill Creek Nature Park.  Much of the 880 acre park was donated to Johnson County Parks and Recreation for the purpose of providing a peaceful natural setting for walking trails, bike rides, horseback rides, picnics, boating, fishing, and enjoying the beauty of nature.  The quarry operation currently is disruptive to people enjoying the tranquility and natural beauty of the Kill Creek Park.  Expansion of the quarry to the south will create a situation that will be more obtrusive and detracting to park visitors.  The quarry is not consistent or compatible with the Kill Creek Nature Park.

9.  According to the Kansas Biological Survey, threatened, rare, and species of concern occur in neighboring properties and have the potential to occur at the quarry.  However, due to the lack of suitable habitat, it is unlikely that these species occur at the quarry. 

10. The Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory database contains two records of rare species near the quarry site.  They are two mussel species, the fatmuket and the fawnsfoot.  The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks lists both of these species in the Species in Need of Conservation (SINC). The prairie mole cricket, a SINC species is known to occur near the quarry site. The business of extracting limestone is not conducive to attracting or protecting these species.

Please come to the February 24th BOCC Meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the Johnson County Administration Building.  The BOCC has the authority to stop the quarrying operation, but they need to see that the public is interested in this decision! 

We hope that you will come to the meeting to speak or to show your support of the other speakers by your presence.  If you choose to speak, please include in your comments your opposition to the quarry and your request for denial of the conditional use permit.  Your comments must be new information or summary statements and the time limit per person will be

2-3 minutes.   Please share this information with your friends, neighbors, and relatives.  Help us spread the word about this meeting with other groups/listservs.  We need to fill the Board Hearing Room and have a huge crowd to support the volunteer speakers from the public.  We know that Hunt/Midwest will have their high paid promoters speaking on their behalf. 

Although your presence at the BOCC meeting is important, we understand that the 2:00 p.m. time may make it difficult for you to attend.  If you are not available for the meeting, please consider sending your comments to the BOCC.  All comments must be received by the BOCC before 2:00 p.m. on February 24th.  Your comments should include a statement expressing your opposition to the quarry and requesting denial of the Conditional Use Permit. 

This has been a long fight, but we are in the final phase.  We need to have a strong showing of support for our position of closing down the quarry!  If you are available, we certainly hope that you will attend this important meeting and encourage others to attend as well. We look forward to seeing you on February 24th at 2:00 p.m.! Thanks.