Topeka ? A second public comment period and one more public hearing have been set for the proposed 895-megawatt coal-burning power plant in southwest Kansas.

The comment period will run from Thursday through Oct. 23. The final hearing will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Sunflower Ballroom of the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Topeka.

Public input is being sought on a proposal by Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build the plant near Holcomb. Most of the power produced will be sold to out-of-state customers.

Last month, a previous public comment period expired and three hearings were held. During that period, more than 4,600 comments were received.

But the Kansas Department of Health and Environment determined more public input was needed because Sunflower needed to make corrections to its air pollution dispersion modeling data. The second public comment period includes all aspects of the air quality permit.

All comments should be submitted between Thursday and Oct. 23 by e-mail to sunflowercomments@kdheks.gov, or in writing to: KDHE Bureau of Air, Attn.: Sunflower Comments, 1000 S.W. Jackson, Suite 310, Topeka, KS 66612-1366. Or they may be presented at the hearing.

A copy of the draft permit, permit application, supporting documentation, and information relied upon during the permit application review process are available at http://www.kdheks.gov/bar/sunflower/sunflower.html.

Environmentalists oppose the proposed facility because of its carbon dioxide emissions. Supporters of the plant say it will be among the cleanest coal-burning plants in the nation and will help the southwest Kansas economy.

After the upcoming comment period and hearing, KDHE Secretary Roderick Bremby will make a final decision on the permit.