65-3005. Powers of the secretary. (a) The secretary shall have the power to:

(1) Adopt, amend and repeal rules and regulations implementing and consistent with this act.

(2) Hold hearings relating to any aspect of or matter in the administration of this act concerning air quality control, and in connection therewith, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence.

(3) Issue such orders, permits and approvals as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act and enforce the same by all appropriate administrative and judicial proceedings.

(4) Require access to records relating to emissions which cause or contribute to air pollution.

(5) Prepare and develop a comprehensive plan or plans for the prevention, abatement and control of air pollution originating in Kansas that affects air quality in Kansas or in other states or both.

(6) Adopt rules and regulations governing such public notification and comment procedures as authorized by this act.

(7) Encourage voluntary cooperation by persons or affected groups to achieve the purposes of this act.

(8) (A) Encourage local units of government to handle air pollution problems within their respective jurisdictions and on a cooperative basis; (B) provide technical and consultative assistance therefor; and (C) enter into agreements with local units of government to administer all or part of the provisions of the Kansas air quality act in the units' respective jurisdictions.

(9) Encourage and conduct studies, investigations and research relating to air contamination and air pollution and their causes, effects, prevention, abatement and control.

(10) Encourage air contaminant emission sources to voluntarily implement strategies, including the development and use of innovative technologies, market-based principles and other private initiatives to reduce or prevent pollution.

(11) Determine by means of field studies and sampling the degree of air contamination and air pollution in the state and the several parts thereof.

(12) Establish ambient air quality standards for the state as a whole or for any part thereof.

(13) Collect and disseminate information and conduct educational and training programs relating to air contamination and air pollution.

(14) Advise, consult and cooperate with other agencies of the state, local governments, industries, other states, interstate or interlocal agencies, and the federal government, and with interested persons or groups.

(15) Accept, receive and administer grants or other funds or gifts from public and private entities, including the federal government, for the purpose of carrying out any of the functions of this act. Such funds received by the secretary pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the account of the department of health and environment.

(16) Enter into contracts and agreements with other state agencies or subdivisions, local governments, other states, interstate agencies, the federal government or its agencies or private entities as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Kansas air quality act.

(17) Conduct or participate in intrastate or interstate emissions trading programs or other programs that demonstrate equivalent air quality benefits for the prevention, abatement and control of air pollution in Kansas or in other states or both.

(18) Prepare and adopt a regional haze plan as may be necessary to prevent, abate and control air pollution originating in Kansas that affects air quality in Kansas or in other states or both. Any regional haze plan prepared by the secretary shall be no more stringent than is required by 42 U.S.C. § 7491.

(19) Participate in the activities of any visibility transport commission established under 42 U.S.C. § 7492. The secretary shall report to the governor and the legislature on the activities of any such visibility transport commission annually.

(b) It is a policy of the state to regulate the air quality of the state and implement laws and regulations that are applied equally and uniformly throughout the state and consistent with those of the federal government.

(1) The secretary shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to establish standards to ensure that the state is in compliance with the provisions of the federal clean air act, as amended (42 U.S.C. section 7401 et seq.). The standards so established shall not be any more stringent, restrictive or expansive than those required under the federal clean air act, as amended, nor shall the rules and regulations be enforced in any area of the state prior to the time required by the federal clean air act. If the secretary determines that more stringent, restrictive or expansive rules and regulations are necessary, the secretary may implement the rules and regulations only after approval by an act of the legislature. The restrictions of this subsection shall not apply to the parts of the state implementation plan developed by the secretary to bring a nonattainment area into compliance when needed to have a United States environmental protection agency approved state implementation plan.

(2) For any application for a permit required by federal or state law, the secretary shall not deny or delay the issuance of such permit when the requirements of this act have been met.

History: L. 1967, ch. 347, § 5; L. 1970, ch. 261, § 5; L. 1974, ch. 352, § 137; L. 1993, ch. 13, § 3; L. 2006, ch. 84, § 2; L. 2009, ch. 141, § 23; May 28.