Opinion ID: 2628312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Tri-County

Text: The Court of Appeals' conclusion that Tri-County had associational standing relied primarily on another opinion by the Court of Appeals Tri-County Concerned Citizens, Inc. v. Board of Harper County Comm'rs, 32 Kan.App.2d 1168, 95 P.3d 1012, rev. denied 278 Kan. 852 (2004)in which Tri-County was also involved. That case involved a zoning challenge to a special use permit for the landfill issued by the Harper County Board. The Court of Appeals determined that Tri-County had standing to challenge that permit because it met the associational standing requirements of NEA-Coffeyville, 268 Kan. at 387, 996 P.2d 821. Tri-County, 32 Kan. App.2d at 1174-75, 95 P.3d 1012. Waste Connections argues that it was improper for the Court of Appeals to rely on Tri-County because the injury alleged in that casethe injuries to be caused by the special use permitwere qualitatively different than the injury alleged in this case. This argument is without merit. The Court of Appeals' discussion of standing during the zoning appeal demonstrates that the interests considered there dealt with the injuries that members of Tri-County would suffer if a landfill would be approved. The court applied the three-prong test for associational standing, explaining: (1) The individual members of the association have standing in their individual capacity since they live within 1,000 feet of the landfill; property owners this close to a landfill site are aggrieved because they potentially suffer a substantial grievance and a loss of a pecuniary interest. (2) Since the stated purpose of the corporation is to protect the environment, the prosecution of this lawsuit is wholly consistent with the association's purpose. (3) The participation of the individual members is not necessarily required. 32 Kan.App.2d at 1174-75, 95 P.3d 1012. Given the procedural posture of the current appeala dismissal for lack of standing on the basis of the petition itselfthe Court of Appeals in this case should have based its conclusion regarding Tri-County's associational standing on the face of the petition for judicial review and reasonable inferences therefrom, not on another panel's decision involving a similar issue. Nevertheless, an examination of the petition demonstrates that Tri-County meets the requirements for associational standing for reasons similar to those described in the previous appeal. The petition alleges that members of Tri-County were present at the public hearing held by KDHE and commented on the potential landfill at that hearing. The petition further states that members of Tri-County will suffer damage to their real property and water supply if the Plumb Thicket landfill site is unsuitable under applicable legal requirements and if it leaks, causing contamination to the soil, groundwater and surface water. It can be inferred from the petition that members of Tri-County will suffer imminent injury if the challenge to issuance of landfill permit is not permitted. The members would therefore have standing to sue individually. Likewise, the petition states that Tri-County is a nonprofit organization organized for the purpose or preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Harper, Kingman and Sumner counties. The interests that the association seeks to protect by initiating this actionnamely, ensuring that any landfill that is located in Harper County meet environmental standards to protect the groundwater supply and river waterare germane to this purpose. Finally, the claim asserted by Tri-County-that the KDHE's decision to grant the permit was arbitrary and capricious in that it did not take into account the concerns addressed in the comments, in particular the Terrane and Burns & McDonnell studies-does not require the participation of the individual members. We agree with the Court of Appeals' determination that Tri-County meets the standards for associational standing as set forth in NEA-Coffeyville. See 268 Kan. at 387, 996 P.2d 821, 38 Kan.App.2d at 563-64, 168 P.3d 1034.