A federal official is telling Kansas to start over in considering a proposal for a new coal-fired power plant in the southwestern part of the state.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s acting regional administrator sent a letter Wednesday to Kansas Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby.

Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. wants to build its coal-fired plant in Finney County. Sunflower had wanted to build two plants, but Bremby rejected an air-quality permit for the project in October 2007.

Sunflower’s new proposal arises from a deal it struck in May with Gov. Mark Parkinson. The company filed a revised application for an air-quality permit with KDHE last month.

EPA spokesman David Bryan said the federal agency wants to make sure that KDHE has public hearings on the Sunflower proposal.