Kansas air polluters will pay more, but the state will keep the money

Kansas is updating its rules for how much industrial polluters pay in fees. The state will now collect more money from these fees, and it will use that money to fund its air quality permit program. This change means the state's program for monitoring and permitting air pollution will have a more stable budget.

For years, state environmental agencies have struggled to fund their own operations, often relying on inconsistent federal grants or general state funds. This change means Kansas's air quality program will be directly supported by the industries it regulates. It also means that the cost of operating polluting facilities in Kansas will increase, making it more expensive to emit certain pollutants.