Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet

Volume 11 Number 4Volume 11 Number 4Volume 11 Number 4Volume 11 Number 4Volume 11 Number 4Winter 2001Winter 2001Winter 2001Winter 2001Winter 2001

Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection Cabinet

James E. Bickford, SecretaryBruce Williams, Deputy Secretary

Department for EnvironmentalProtection

Robert Logan, Commissioner

Department for Natural ResourcesHugh Archer, Commissioner

Department for Surface MiningReclamation and Enforcement

Carl E. Campbell, Commissioner

Land, Air & Water is publishedquarterly by the Natural Resources and

Environmental Protection Cabinet with stateand federal funds. Subscription to this

publication is free. Write the PublicInformation and Education Branch, 4thFloor, Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort,

KY 40601 or phone (502) 564-5525 to haveyour name added to the mailing list.Address changes and deletions alsoshould be sent to this office or faxed

to (502) 564-2043.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet does not discriminate onthe basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability and provides, onrequest, reasonable accommodations including auxiliary aids and services necessary to affordan individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs andactivities. To request materials in an alternative format, contact the Public Information andEducation Branch, 4th Floor, Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort, KY 40601 or call (502) 564-5525. Hearing- and speech-impaired persons can contact the agency by using the KentuckyRelay Service, a toll-free telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD). For voice to TDD,call (800) 648-6057. For TDD to voice, call (800) 648-6056.

Printed on recycled paper with state and federal funds

Agency CoordinatorsMartin Bess, Maleva Chamberlain,Leslie Cole, Lillie Cox, Don Dott,

Matt Hackathorn, Stan Henize, GwenHolt, Karen Landry, Lee Ruggles,

R.C. StoryVisit Land, Air & Water magazine on the World Wide Web at

www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/landairwater.htm

Online

State of KentuckyPaul E. Patton, Governor

EditorsHeather Frederick

Cindy Schafer

Editorial AssistantJulie Brumback Smither

Design & ProductionCindy Schafer

In 2000, ozone readings in Kentucky dropped to their lowest levels since 1993.Ozone is a colorless gas that can be found in the air we breathe. High levels of itmay be harmful to children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems.

In 1999, monitors reported a total of 348 instances when an 8-hour average ofozone reached or exceeded a level of 85 parts per billion (ppb). An 8-hour averageat this level exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) nationalambient air quality standard for ozone. In 2000, monitors reported 77 instanceswhen ozone levels reached this potentially unhealthful category. This is a 78percent reduction from last year and is the lowest number of instances recorded inthis category since 1993. Increased rainfall and cooler temperatures in the summer of 2000 probablyplayed an important role in reducing the number of days when ozone levels ex-ceeded the EPA standard. In Kentucky, last year’s drought conditions were idealfor ozone formation. Extended periods with no rain, high temperatures and lowwinds allow pollutant concentrations to build up, which may eventually result inhigh ozone levels. In comparison, frequent rains tend to cleanse the air of ozone-causing pollutants, and moderate temperatures slow down the photochemicalreaction that is needed for ozone to form.

Vehicle emissions testing, carpooling and other ozone-reducing activities alsohelp to limit ozone formation.

Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction between volatile organiccompounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of sunlight.There are many sources of VOCs and NOx, including automobiles, power plants,aircraft and lawn equipment engines. These numerous sources of VOCs make ozonedifficult to control. Although ozone levels have declined in many areas of the state,it continues to be a problem. Much of the decline can be attributed to reducedemissions from cars and industry. However, an increase in the number of vehicleson the highways and a growing industrial base tend to offset many of thesereductions.

Ozone levels improve in 2000By Larry GarrisonDivision for Air Quality

On our cover

what’s insideWinter 2001

9-10

1-2

13

Solid waste legislation could address trash in Kentucky 1-2The Kentucky General Assembly may consider ways to clean upKentucky.

Winter fuel prices on the increase 3Your heating bill is getting larger. Check out a list of agencies to call if youhave questions about heating-related issues.

Update on river basins in Kentucky 6Get an up-to-date report on the basins located in your area of the stateand how you can help protect Kentucky’s waterways.

Martin County slurry spill 9-10Photographs and captions help to describe what happened at theMartin County site.

Winter salt damage to trees 13Find out what salt can do to your trees and what species have hightolerances to the products we use so frequently in winter.

Video camera used in groundwater investigations 14With the use of a special camera, scientists can learn all aboutyour well water.

Governor’s Conference on the Environment 17-18Check out the events that took place during the 25th annual conference.

Features

ContentsOzone levels improve in 2000 ................................................... Inside CoverFirst results from study on pollution in Tri-State area .................................. 4Toyota sets greener standards for itself and its suppliers .............................. 5New grant project targets industry, environment and economy ................... 7Team practices dam safety ............................................................................ 8Panel announces 2001 meeting schedule ...................................................... 8National competition puts students to the test in Kentucky ....................... 11License plates help purchase 10,000 acres ................................................. 12Big gifts highlight effort to protect natural treasure ................................... 15Two new division directors join NREPC .................................................... 15Web Watch .................................................................................................. 16Awards .................................................................................................. 19-20We need your help! ...................................................................... Back Cover

(Top) Princess Arch at DanielBoone National Forest.Photographed by Thomas G.Barnes, University ofKentucky.

(Left) Winter on Pine Moun-tain. Photograph provided bythe Kentucky State NaturePreserves Commission.

(Right) Ice crater at BadBranch State Nature Preserveon Pine Mountain. Photo-graph also provided by theKentucky State NaturePreserves Commission.

Land, Air & Water

LawmakersLawmakersLawmakersLawmakersLawmakersmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideas

for cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentucky

1

LawmakersLawmakersLawmakersLawmakersLawmakersmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideasmay consider ideas

for cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upfor cleaning upKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentucky

The Kentucky General Assembly may soon be asked to considersolid waste legislation that aims to address the trashing of Kentucky’senvironment. Here’s a look at the challenges we face to clean up theCommonwealth and increase our recycling rate.

An estimated 3,300 illegal dumps tarnish Kentucky’s beautiful landscape, posingpotential threats to human health and drinking water supplies. In 1999, counties spentmore than $6 million to eliminate dumps, but previously unknown dump sites areconstantly being discovered. Since 1997, the Kentucky Natural Resources and Envi-ronmental Protection Cabinet (NREPC) has overseen the removal of 3,439 tons of trashby illegal dumpers.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spends$4 million a year to pick up trash tossed along thestate’s roadways. The Cabinet’s Adopt-A-Highway program also organizes volunteers whoclean up roadside litter. In addition, cities andcounties spend millions of dollars on thesecleanups. Despite these efforts, many motoristssee nothing wrong with tossing candy wrappers,aluminum cans and bottles out of their vehicle’swindow.

(Left) MorganCounty officialscleaned up this dumpon Coon CreekRoad. Counties areresponsible forcleaning up illegaldumps, but oftenlack the manpowerand funding to do so.

(Right) BreathittCounty, alongmiddle fork of theKentucky River.Photos by RichardThomas, Office ofSecretary

(Right) An Adopt-A-Highway volunteer collectsroadside litter in Somerset. Photo courtesy of theKentucky Transportation Cabinet

Land, Air & Water2

The NREPC believes environmentaleducation is a key component of all effortsto clean up Kentucky and increaserecycling in the state. Informing peopleabout proper waste disposal and changingimproper attitudes will go a long waytoward keeping Kentucky clean. Thecabinet believes an environmentaleducation master plan developed by acoalition of more than 150 educators,citizens, business leaders and othersprovides a solid foundation for thiseducational effort. The plan, “Land,

Only 24 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have mandatory garbage collection. In fact,17 percent of the state’s residents do not even have access to curbside pickup of theirhousehold waste. Many residents dispose of their waste illegally.

Curbside recycling is offered in only 35 of Kentucky’s counties. Since 1999, ninecounties eliminated their recycling drop-off boxes.

There are hundreds of automotive and machinery salvage yards in Kentucky, butonly 100 of these operations are permitted, according to the Kentucky TransporationCabinet. Many of the unpermitted sites fail to meet basic environmental performancestandards. There are also an estimated 300,000 abandoned junk vehicles in the state.

(Left) Leaking drums at this Caldwell Countysalvage yard illustrate the problems ofunpermitted sites. Photo by Stan Anderson

(Above) The City of Midway offers curbsiderecycling. Photo by William Hill, Division ofWaste Management

(Right) Automotivesalvage yards like thisone in Harlan County

are required by theKentucky Transporta-

tion Cabinet to havescreening high enough

to completely shieldvehicles from view

from any public road.Regulations also dictate

that junk vehicles notbe placed next to the

roadway. Photo byStan Anderson, London

Regional Office

Legacy and Learning: Making EducationPay for Kentucky’s Environment,” wasdeveloped with the guidance of theKentucky Environmental EducationCouncil. It is available on the council’sWeb site at http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/envred/KEECmaster.htm. Youcan also obtain a copy by calling thecouncil at (800) 882-5271. The NREPChopes solid waste legislation passed by theKentucky General Assembly will include aprovision for environmental education.

For a closer look at illegal dumps,

recycling and other challenges outlined onthese pages, you may wish to read “Clean-ing Up Kentucky: Waste Problems andChallenges.” This study was developedby the Kentucky NREPC and is availableon our Web site at www.kyenvironment.org under the heading “Other Items ofInterest.”

Contact your state legislators to letthem know what you think should be doneto clean up Kentucky. When the KentuckyGeneral Assembly is in session, you canreach your lawmakers at (502) 564-8100.

Land, Air & Water

Sharply higher bills for winter heating fuels are going to put acrimp in the household budgets of many Kentuckians this winter.Prices for natural gas, heating oil and propane are projected to be up to60 percent higher than last winter. The Kentucky Division of Energyhas joined forces with state and federal agencies in hopes of reducingthe impacts of these increases.

Although the division is not a regulatory agency, it is charged bystatute with developing contingency plans for energy emergencies.Other partners in this effort include:

• Public Service Commission• Office of Attorney General• Department of Military Affairs, Division of Emergency

Management• Cabinet for Families and Children• Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle

Enforcement• Department for Local GovernmentThe cooperative efforts of these groups include exploring ways to

lessen the impacts of price increases on low-income households andincreasing awareness of potential problems at the local level. Therehave also been discussions about exempting fuel truck drivers fromcertain regulations during emergency periods. Public informationofficers from each of the agencies are also working together todevelop public awareness campaigns about the price increases andconservation measures.

A variety of factors have led to this winter’s price increases. Thelow natural gas prices of two years ago led to significantly reduceddrilling. That decreased production plus an increased demand for gas-fired turbines for electricity generation have sparked an increase innatural gas prices. Those costs have risen from the $2 per thousandcubic feet range two years ago to more than $9 per thousand cubic feetin December 2000.

Oil, an international commodity, has been affected by last year’sOPEC production cutbacks, a strong United States and world economyand uncertainty in the Middle East. A barrel of oil that was pricednear $10 two years ago is now in the $30 price range, despite severalOPEC production increases. Tightening supplies and price increasesgo hand in hand.

For tips to reduce your heating bills and other information, pleasesee the Kentucky Division of Energy Web site at http://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

State agencieswork togetherto addressconcerns over winterfuel price increasesBy Greg GuessDivision of Energy

The following agencies can provide assistance onheating-related issues:

Kentucky Association for Community Action (KACA)(800) 456-3452Administers the Low-Income Home Energy AssistanceProgram, which helps Kentucky families pay their utility billseach winter. KACA operates the program under a grant fromthe Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children. TheCommunity Action agencies have at least one staffed office inevery county. http://www.kaca.org

Cabinet for Families and Children (800) 456-3452Provides funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assis-tance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Programoperated by KACA. The Cabinet also operates a number ofprograms that provide assistance for low-income households,the elderly, children and other at-risk individuals.http://cfc. state.ky.us

Public Service Commission (502) 564-3940Provides oversight for regulated natural gas and electricservice. Investigates price complaints involving regulatedutilities. http://www.psc.state.ky.us

Office of the Attorney General (502) 696-5389Investigates customer complaints and enforces consumerprotection statutes.http://www.law.state.ky.us/cp/default.htm

Office of Aging Services (502) 564-6930Responsible for receiving, investigating and seeking resolutionto problems encountered by nursing home residents, theelderly and their families.http://cfc-chs.chr.state.ky.us/chs/oas/aging.htm

Department for Local Government (800) 346-5606Assists in the coordination of energy issues with localgovernments and municipally owned utilities.http://www.kylocalgov.com

Office of the State Fire Marshal (502) 564-3626Provides advice on the safe use of auxiliary heating appli-ances. http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/housing/divfire.htm.Fire safety tips and Web links can be found athttp://www. fireandsafety.eku.edu/

Kentucky Division of Energy (800) 282-0868Provides information on conservation and energy efficiency.http://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

Division of Motor Vehicle Enforcement (502) 564-3276Determines if exemptions to Federal Motor Carrier SafetyAdministration (FMCSA) regulations are appropriate and/orrequired. http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/cabinet/contacts.htm

WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP

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Land, Air & Water

An environmental study has found increased cancer and other health risks for some residents ofKentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Amulti-agency group released thesefindings from the first phase of its study inthe fall of 2000.

Complaints and concerns about airpollution from area residents to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agencyprompted the formation of the Tri-StateGeographic Initiative, one of the firststudies of its kind in America. The threestates and the three EPA regions in whicheach is located (Regions 3, 4 and 5) joinedtogether to form the initiative. The goal ofthe project was to determine the presenceand levels of pollution that could causehealth problems for the area’s residents.This involves looking at a variety ofenvironmental issues, including airquality, drinking water quality and levelsof pollutants in Ohio River fish.

The area under examination is the tri-state region where Kentucky, Ohio andWest Virginia meet. It covers 2,300square miles and includes Lawrence andScioto counties in Ohio, Cabell andWayne counties in West Virginia andGreenup and Boyd counties in Kentucky.

Because of the area’s size, studypartners divided it into six smaller areascalled clusters, each identified by thepresence of a concentration of largeindustries. They then prioritized theclusters and began work on the first one,named the Kenova Cluster (because of itsproximity to Kenova, W.Va.) in 1996.This cluster also contains the communityof Catlettsburg, Ky. Studies the initiativeperformed for this cluster included airpollution monitoring, air pollutionmodeling, a drinking water evaluation anda fish consumption study.Air monitoring and air modeling

Scientists conducted air monitoring atseven locations in the Kenova Cluster.They collected and analyzed more than900 samples from these stations. Re-searchers also placed a mobile lab at fourother locations over a 15-week period,

collecting more than 1,500 additionalsamples. The year of monitoring revealedrisk levels similar to those seen across thenation. There were elevated cancer risksin the Kenova Cluster from six chemicalsand elevated noncancer health risks fromthree.

Air modeling involved using informa-tion from four industries in the clusterabout their emissions—Marathon AshlandPetroleum LLC, Ashland Chemical,Aristech and Calgon Carbon Corp.Together with meteorological informationabout temperature, air currents, windvelocity and precipitation, a computermodel predicted the levels of variouspollutants that would occur at certainlocations. Researchers selected locationsthat represent the most vulnerable popula-tions, including hospitals, nursing homes,schools and daycare facilities.

Members of the initiative, includingthe Kentucky Department for Environ-mental Protection (KDEP), believe theserisks are not acceptable. KDEP continuesto implement a variety of programs thatare reducing risks from air toxics. Airquality trends in the tri-state area haveimproved over the past decade, and theseprograms will continue to reduce airpollution risks in the Kenova Cluster. Fish consumption

Risk estimates for consuming fishfrom the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers werebased on information from the Ohio RiverValley Sanitation Commission aboutdifferent species of fish it had sampled.The highest cancer and other health risksstemmed from the discovery of PCBs incatfish, carp and smallmouth buffalo.PCBs represented a lower, long-term,noncancer health hazard in crappie, blackbass and sauger. Methylmercury alsoposed hazards above the acceptable levelin catfish, carp, smallmouth buffaloand sauger.

Residents in the tri-state area, as wellas in other parts of Kentucky, should beaware of existing fish consumptionadvisories. The KDEP, together with thedepartments of Public Health and Fish and

Wildlife Resources, issued a fish con-sumption advisory for PCBs and chlor-dane for some fish species in the OhioRiver in 1990. The advisory has beencontinued and altered over the years.Chlordane has been removed as a con-taminant of concern because levels in theKentucky portion of the river havedecreased since the advisory was firstissued. In April 2000, a statewidemercury advisory was issued for allfreshwater fish from Kentucky waters,including the Ohio River.

In addition to fish consumptionadvisories, the KDEP will also continuelong-term efforts to reduce water qualityconcerns.Drinking water evaluation

The study found Kenova areadrinking water facilities are providingwater that is much safer than the lawrequires. They exceed national standardsset to guard against risks from disinfectionbyproducts, which are contaminantsproduced when chlorine used to purifywater breaks down over time. However,some byproducts produced bycholorination result in cancer risks of upto three in 100,000 in the area. The studypartners point out that the health risks ofdrinking surface water that has not beendisinfected are enormous.

Chlorination of water supplies wasintroduced in the United States in 1908,and the incidence of waterborne diseasehas dropped dramatically since then.Eighty percent of all disease worldwide isestimated to be due to improperly sani-tized food and water.What’s next

With monitoring in the KenovaCluster complete, scientists turned theirattention to the Greenup Cluster, whichconsists of the cities of Greenup, Ky., andWurtland, Ky., and an area of land inOhio. Monitoring there is also complete,and risk assessment results from analysesof data are expected near the end of 2001.

The schedule of monitoring andassessments from the remaining fourclusters has not yet been determined.

First results from study on pollutionin Tri-State area By Aaron Keatley

Department for Environmental Protection

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Land, Air & Water

One of the country’s biggestautomakers plans to reduce itsimpact on Kentucky’s environ-

ment. Toyota Motor ManufacturingNorth America has established newstandards that will affect its plant inGeorgetown, Ky., as well as its facilitiesaround the country and in Canada. TheGeorgetown plant manufactures theToyota Camry and Avalon sedans, alongwith the Sienna minivan.

Toyota’s efforts to be more environ-mentally friendly focus on its ownoperations and on its suppliers.

In the fall, Toyota announced its new“Environmental Action Plan,” whichoutlines goals it wants to reach at itsNorth American plants by 2005. Theyinclude:

• Reducing the use of electricity,water and natural gas by 15 percent.

• Reducing the emissions of volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) by 30percent.

• Reducing hazardous waste disposalat landfills by 95 percent.

Each of Toyota’s automobile andautomotive part plants is developing itsown plan on how to meet these goals.

Toyota knows the 95 percent reduc-tion in hazardous waste disposal is anambitious target. “I think it’s a big issue,”said Kevin Butt, the assistant generalmanager for environmental affairs inNorth America. “It reduces our long-termliability and forces us to look at the rawmaterials we’re using currently andmaybe make alternative choices so thatany waste produced isn’t hazardous.”

In addition to the goals it establishedfor itself, Toyota has also issued newrequirements for its 500 automotivesuppliers. Suppliers who provide parts,materials or components to Toyota will berequired to comply with at least one of thefollowing initiatives:

• Obtain ISO 14001 Certification.• Comply with a chemical ban list.• Develop appropriate policies to

comply with applicable regulations on thetransportation of hazardous materials.

ISO 14001 is an internationalstandard for environmental performance.It requires companies to set environmentalobjectives and demonstrate continualimprovement in their operations. Thereduction of volatile organic compoundsemitted by paint shops in factories is anexample of the type of improvement thatmight be addressed by an ISO 14001objective. In order to obtain ISO certifica-tion from Toyota, suppliers will have to beevaluated by an independent auditor.

Toyota’s chemical ban list for NorthAmerica identifies about 450 chemicalsand substances that suppliers of rawmaterials must phase out in new andreformulated materials. To compile its listof banned chemicals, Toyota looked atregulated lists of chemicals from allcountries and chose those that were usedin high volume. The long-term goal of thechemical list is for the company to

Toyota sets greener standardsfor itself and its suppliers By Heather Frederick

Public Information and Education Branch

produce cars that can be dismantled orshredded at the end of their usable lifewithout concerns about the chemicals thecars contain. Toyota will work with itssuppliers to find replacements for chemi-cal ingredients that are on the ban list andto establish a phase-out schedule for thereplacement of those ingredients.

The final objective for suppliers isthat they comply with all state, federal andinternational requirements on the transpor-tation of hazardous materials. Thisobjective focuses on the packaging,loading, handling and transportation ofhazardous materials.

Not all of Toyota’s suppliers arebeing asked to comply with all of itsobjectives. “We thought very carefullyabout all the suppliers we had,” Butt said.“We felt it wasn’t fair carte blanche tosay ‘You have to comply with theseguidelines.’” For example, ISO certifica-tion would be very costly for thecompany’s small suppliers. “We tried tobreak down carefully who had the highestimpact and volume and ask them toparticipate with us so we wouldn’t causeburden where it wasn’t necessary. But if itwas a small supplier who provides us withhigh toxicity chemicals, they would beasked to comply. The bottom line is wherecan we get the best environmental perfor-mance from our suppliers?”

Meeting its current environmentalgoals and getting its suppliers to do thesame won’t be the end of Toyota’s effortsto become a stronger steward of theenvironment. The company will establisha set of new goals in a few years, eventhough environmental performance comeswith a price tag. “It’s expensive, but it’s apart of doing business,” Butt said. “Wemanufacture in neighborhoods where ourteam members live. It’s our obligation toprotect our team members and theneighborhoods where they live. Ourphilosophy is that everyone is accountablefor environmental performance, from topto bottom. We want to improve ourperformance every year. We don’t wantto just be driven by regulations.”

Sparks are flying on the production line atToyota Motor Manufacturing inGeorgetown, Ky. Almost 100 robotsperform various welds to the vehicles’ mainbodies on this line. Photo provide by Toyota

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Land, Air & Water6

Story contributors:Bob Wise, Four Rivers BasinGreg Epp, Kentucky River BasinPamla Wood, Licking River BasinPennie DuBarry, Salt River BasinRob Miller, Upper Cumberland River BasinDale Reynolds, Green/Tradewater River Basin

An important report hit the Web, a basin team hit the roadand another river basin joined the rolls of a state water- shed program in 2000. The Watershed Management

Initiative helps bring together federal, state and local agencies,along with interested groups and individuals within each riverbasin, to work to protect the waterways of the area. The Green/Tradewater Basin joined the process in 2000. Here’s a look atwhat it and others accomplished last year.Green/Tradewater River Basin

A new river basin team coordinator, Dale Reynolds, willoversee watershed activities in the Green and Tradewater riverbasins. The team’s first task is to develop its outreach messageand to compile information to produce a basin status report. Thereport will join four others that provide a “snapshot” of condi-tions in each basin and lay the foundation for developing acoordinated monitoring strategy, planning and implementation.Cumberland River Basin and Four Rivers Region

Robert Miller was appointed to oversee watershed manage-ment activities in the entire Cumberland and Four Rivers Region.His office is located in the Upper Cumberland Basin in London,but he also works closely with the Lower Cumberland/FourRivers Region Basin Team.Upper Cumberland River

Water quality problems have plagued Harlan County forquite awhile. An intensive monitoring effort by the Division ofWater traced sources to illegal straight pipe discharges andfailing septic systems.

Bayou De Chien in Hickman County. Division of Water photo

The replacement of some straight pipes and the addition of a newwastewater treatment plant in the city of Harlan have improvedthe situation, but more coordination and funding are necessary tosolve this immense problem.

In 2000, funding from the Division of Water helped establishthe Harlan County Environmental Task Force, a local citizenorganization. The group has determined a need for a county-wide sanitation district to properly manage and implementfunding for a comprehensive wastewater treatment infrastructure.The task force presented the idea to the Harlan County FiscalCourt in August, and an ordinance was drafted. At press time,the ordinance was under review by Harlan County Fiscal Court.Four Rivers Region

Based on information gathered for a basin status report, theFour Rivers Watershed Team decided to ask cooperatingagencies to modify their monitoring plans to focus on fecalcoliform and pesticides.

Because the Cumberland River runs from eastern Kentuckydown into Tennessee and back up into western Kentucky as itflows north into the Ohio River, any problems that impact theCumberland will affect both Kentucky and Tennessee. There-fore, the Four Rivers Basin Team is working closely with theCumberland River Compact, its counterpart in that state, tocoordinate efforts and information. As a result of this coopera-

tion, a team was recently formed tofocus on the Red River, which flowsfrom western Kentucky into Tennes-see and then on into the CumberlandRiver.Licking River Basin

The team in this basin iseagerly awaiting information fromthe 1999-2000 sampling due out thiswinter, so it can begin a deeperevaluation of the watershed. One ofits challenges will be to characterize

Continued on Page 7

WatchingWatchingWatchingWatchingWatchingthe

waterswaterswaterswaterswaters in 20002000200020002000

Land, Air & Water

activities that result in soil loss and sedimentation, which occurs throughout much of thebasin.

Among other efforts in the region:• Public and private forces are working in Bath County to provide wastewater

treatment for a community situated far from a sewage treatment system.• The Cooperative Extension Service has chosen the Licking River Basin as the

pilot basin for its new Master Water Educator program. Once trained, these volunteerswill spread the word on watershed management throughout the area.Salt River Basin

The Salt River Basin Team “hit the road” to tell people in the area about watershedmanagement activities. At a meeting at Bernheim Forest in August, a group fromBullitt County heard a presentation on the state’s new forest conservation act and thenvisited Maple Gate Farm to see firsthand examples of both proper and improper loggingpractices. They also watched an in-stream demonstration on stream assessments andbasic water quality testing.

Team member Pennie DuBarry represented the team at the Food, Farming and OurEnvironment Coalition’s teacher-in-service program at the Blackacre State NaturePreserve in September, where she provided teachers with ideas on how to build aclassroom curriculum focused on the Salt River Basin.Kentucky River Basin

The 2000 Kentucky River Basin Assessment Report was published in August. It isavailable on the World Wide Web at http://kywatersheds.org. Scroll down to the“Kentucky River Basin” section of the page to see the report. The report includes aranking of watersheds, grouping them into categories reflecting high, medium or lowneeds for protection or restoration. The rankings were compiled by weighing dozens ofdirect and indirect measures of watershed health, sensitivity and value. These rankingsare the starting point for listing the top priorities in the basin.

Newly established watershed task forces in the Kentucky River Basin will useinformation from the assessment report and add local details to begin looking for waysto improve and protect water quality and watersheds as a whole. The task forces willserve to move watershed management activities in the basin from the informationgathering and analysis stage of the past three years to local planning to carry the processforward.Big and Little Sandy River Basins

The basin coordinator for these basins will be hired this winter, and team formationwill begin in the spring of 2001.

Watching the waters in 2000Continued from Page 6

Almost half of all energy used inKentucky is consumed byindustry. That’s why five

Kentucky industries are the targets of anew program in the Kentucky Division ofEnergy.

Just as energy-efficient appliancescan help households save money, energy-efficient production processes can helpindustries improve their financial perfor-mance, reduce pollution and cut down onthe production of waste products.

The U.S. Department of Energyrecently awarded the Kentucky Divisionof Energy a $199,160 grant to initiate theIndustries of the Future program in fiveKentucky industries—agriculture, forestproducts, chemicals, mining and steel.This extends the scope of a similar grantthe division received last year to developthe program with the aluminum industry.Combined, the five new industriesemploy 27 percent of Kentucky’smanufacturing production workers andaccount for 28 percent of its manufactur-ing value added.

The purpose of Industries of theFuture is to help industries work togetherto plan their future research and develop-ment strategies in ways that improveenergy efficiency and reduce the genera-tion of waste. The program fostersfederal, state and industry partnerships toimprove the energy efficiency, environ-mental profile and economic competitive-ness of nine of the nation’s most energy-intensive industries. Once an industry hasjointly determined its research anddevelopment strategy, companies formconsortia to pursue specific projects,which may be partly funded by the U.S.Department of Energy. The Kentuckyaluminum industry has already begunwork on two large research and develop-ment projects, with two more proposals inline for possible funding.

The Kentucky Division of Energyis working with several groups to imple-ment the program. These groups includethe Center for Aluminum Technology atthe University of Kentucky, UK’s Centerfor Robotics and Manufacturing Systems,

New grant project targets industry,environment and economy

By Karen LandryDivision of Energy

the Center for Business and EconomicResearch at UK and the KentuckyPollution Prevention Center at theUniversity of Louisville. These groupswill assess the economic importance ofeach industry in Kentucky, establishnetworks of decision makers within eachindustry and help them develop theirresearch and development strategies,known as “technology roadmaps.”

Geoff Young, the KentuckyDivision of Energy’s contact personfor the two industrial projects, is excitedabout the possibilities. “There is a verylarge potential to improve energyefficiency and reduce waste generationin these industries,” he said, “and thetotal benefits for Kentucky’s economyand environment could be significant.”

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Land, Air & Water

Team practices dam safety By Maleva ChamberlainDivision of Water

Division of Water personnel from the FlorenceRegional Office observe a de-watering demonstra-tion at Camp Ernst Lake in Boone County. Photoby Art Clay

“Water bounded down the valley, crashing and roaring,carrying everything before it. For a mile its front seemed like asolid wall 20 feet high,” said a witness after the ConnemaughLake dam broke above Johnstown, Pa., on May 31, 1889. Heavyrainfall filled the lake and pressed against the neglected dam untilit collapsed, leading to the deaths of 2,209 at Johnstown. Afarmer who escaped said that the waterdid not come down like a wave, butjumped on his house and beat it tofragments in an instant. He was safeon the hillside, but his wife and twochildren were killed.

To prevent catastrophes like theone at Johnstown, the Dam SafetySection of the Division of Water keepsan inventory of dams in Kentucky andinspects them regularly. But just incase Kentucky experiences an unex-pected dam failure, the section’semergency team prepares for the worst.

The group trains each year bysetting up demonstrations for localemergency management and electedofficials. The demonstrations showhow equipment is used to lower lakelevels in emergencies. In the fall of 2000, the dam safety teamtrained at the London Reservoir in Laurel County and at CampErnst Lake in Boone County.

The demonstrations serve two purposes, according to ArtClay, supervisor of the Dam Safety and Floodplain ComplianceSection. “One is to test the equipment to make sure it’s workingcorrectly,” Clay said. “And it’s also a training exercise for localand regional offices because we call for their assistance in

actual emergencies.”When a dam is failing, the goal of the emergency team is to

release the water behind it gently, but swiftly. Team membersuse large siphons and pumps and try to discharge the water intothe dam’s spillway whenever possible. One siphon is capable ofmoving water at a rate of 600 to 800 gallons per minute. A larger

one can move up to 1,500 gallons perminute.

“We usually get two or three emergen-cies a year,” says Marilyn Thomas, anengineer in the section. “The damsusually pick inconvenient times to fail.I’ve worked one or two emergencies in ablizzard.”

The section maintains an inventory ofdams that are at least 25 feet high or thosewhich create a lake covering 50 or moreacres. In addition, any dam constructedabove something that could be damaged,such as a house, would be included on thelist as a high-hazard impoundment. “We

advise people building a dam to determine whether there is property downstream that could be developed and to keep in mindthat they are legally responsible for damages if their dam shouldfail,” Clay said.

The information and quotation on the Johnstown flood isfrom “History of the Johnstown Flood” by Willis FletcherJohnson, published in 1889 by Edgewood Publishing Company.This information was obtained from the following Web site:http://prr.railfan.net/documents/JohnstownFlood.html

To learn more about efforts to protect

Kentucky’s airquality, attend meetings of the

Air Quality Small Business Panel in 2001.Panel members represent small businesses,legislators, the general public, economicdevelopment programs and regulators.The panel advises the Natural Resourcesand Environmental Protection Cabinet onthe effectiveness of the air qualitycompliance assistance offered for small

businesses by the Cabinet’s Division forAir Quality. The panel also sponsors theannual Kentucky Small Business AirQuality Stewardship Awards.

Here’s a look at its schedule ofquarterly meetings:

• Jan. 29, 2001• April 30, 2001• July 30, 2001• Oct. 29, 2001Quarterly meetings will be held at

the Division for Air Quality, 803 SchenkelLane, Frankfort, Ky., at 1:30 p.m. Themeeting facility is accessible to people

Panel announces 2001 meeting schedule By Rose Marie WilmothAir Quality Representative

with disabilities. To request an inter-preter or other auxiliary aid, contactRose Marie Wilmoth at (800) 926-8111.Persons with hearing and speechimpairments can contact Wilmothcalling the Kentucky Relay Service at(800) 648-6056. This service allowshearing or speech impaired persons whouse a text telephone, VCO phone orcomputer to call a hearing person.

Agendas for the Air Quality SmallBusiness Panel’s meetings are availabletwo weeks in advance by calling(800) 926-8111 or (502) 564-2150.

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Slurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin CountySlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inSlurry Spill inMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin CountyMartin County

An estimated 250 million gallons ofcoal slurry escaped from animpoundment in Martin County,

Ky., on Oct. 11, 2000. The mixture of coaland rock dust, rock, slate, clay and waterfilled two creeks with a substance that hadthe consistency of wet concrete. Theslurry also entered several other water-ways.

The spill forced public water systemsin Kentucky and West Virginia to shutdown, filled the yards of area homeownersand triggered a massive cleanup effort.The cause of the spill is still underinvestigation, but the Natural Resourcesand Environmental Protection Cabinethas cited Martin County Coal for numer-ous violations of state regulations. As ofDecember 2000, the company wasappealing these citations.

(Above) Secretary Bickford (center) wasjoined by Ron Padgett (left) director of theKentucky Division of Emergency Servicesand Major General Russ Groves (right) stateAdjutant General in a planning meeting inAshland. Ashland officials prepared abackup water supply plan in the event waterintakes on the Ohio River had to be shutdown due to the slurry spill. However, oncethe material entered the Ohio, it dissipatedenought that it did not affect Ashland’s watersupply.

The slurry spill affected 14 homes in the Coldwater Fork area and five in the Wolf Creekarea. Some residents could not access their homes due to road or bridge damage.

(Upper right) Slurry that escaped from the Martin County Coal im-poundment traveled through adjacent mine works and exited throughthree mine portals before entering Coldwater Fork, which flows intoRockcastle Creek and the Big Andy Branch of Wolf Creek. The gullyshown in this aerial photo was created when slurry came out of the mineportal on the Wolf Creek side of the mine works.

(Right) Damon White of the Cabinet’s Environmental Response Team(ERT) was the first Cabinet representative to arrive on the scene. Later,24 ERT personnel worked at the scene, along with 60 other members ofthe Department for Environmental Protection and 30 members of theDepartment for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

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Land, Air & Water

Photographs provided by KevinHoward, J. Hamon, DamonWhite, Mark York andthe U.S. Coast Guard

Information compiled by Heather Frederick

10

Information compiled by Heather Frederick

(Top left) This 72-acre impoundment near Inez, Ky., was the source of theslurry spill. Slurry is created when coal is washed before it is transportedto buyers such as power plants.

(Top right) This is one of the sediment basins constructed to hold slurrypumped or vacuumed from the waterways. These holding cells allow thesolids in the slurry to settle. As of early December, crews had removed306,000 cubic yards of solid material and 6.1 million gallons of liquids fromWolf Creek and Coldwater Fork.

(Left) The spill impacted about 90 miles of waterways, including 60 milesalong the Kentucky/West Virginia border. The Kentucky National Guardhauled in water for residents whose water districts had to shut downbecause of the spill. Some water districts had to install temporary intakesin unaffected waterways before they could resume operations.

(Above) Pumps on barges were one methodused to remove slurry from the affectedwaterways. A consultant hired by theNatural Resources and EnvironmentalProtection Cabinet estimated that the initialremoval of slurry from drainage basins inWolf Creek and Coldwater Fork could becompleted by March or April 2001 underfavorable weather conditions.

(Left) Trackhoes, bulldozers and dumptrucks were among the equipment used toremove the slurry from affected waterways.Other equipment used included dredgesand vacuum trucks. In November, morethan 500 workers hired by Martin Countywere working on the cleanup.

(Right) This is one of theportals the slurry exited

from in the ColdwaterFork area. The opening is

being supported by woodenblocks.

Photographs provided by KevinHoward, J. Hamon, DamonWhite, Mark York andthe U.S. Coast Guard

Land, Air & Water

The FFA is a national youthorganization of 453,902 studentmembers preparing for leadershipand careers in the science, busi-ness and technology of agricul-ture. The organization has 7,220local chapters spread across all50 states, Puerto Rico and theVirgin Islands. The FFA strives tomake a positive difference in thelives of students by developingtheir potential for leadership,personal growth and careersuccess through agriculturaleducation. Visit www.ffa.org formore information.

Students applied classroom know- ledge to real-life situations during

the National FFA Convention, heldin Louisville this fall. Almost 50,000students, teachers and guests assembled inwhat is the largest annual youth gatheringin the United States. Some of thosestudents used their academic skills tocompete for national honors.

This year’s 73rd annual conventionwas held in conjunction with the NationalFFA Environmental/Natural ResourcesCareer Development Event (CDE). TheCDE is an educational competition thattests students’ problem-solving anddecision-making skills in environmentaland natural resource areas. These areasinclude soil profiles, water and air quality,waste management, environmentalanalysis, Global Positioning Systems andecological succession. Each team

competed at local and state levels for theprivilege of representing their home stateat the National FFA Convention.

The team from Yanceyville, NC., took first place in the event with Oregon,Connecticut, Indiana and Tennesseerounding out the top five. CaldwellCounty High School represented Kentuckyand placed 24th overall. Team memberswere Emilee Martin, Laron McConnell,Trevor Baker and Erinn Martin.

The Kentucky Division of Conserva-tion assisted with the event, which washeld at the Kentucky Fair and ExpositionCenter. The sponsors of the eventincluded Publisher’s Press of LebanonJunction, Ky., Michelin Ag Tires ofGreenville, S.C., Mississippi ChemicalCorporation of Yazoo City, Miss., and theNational FFA Foundation of Indianapolis,Ind.

National competition putsstudents to the test in KentuckyStory and photographs by Martin BessDivision of Conservation

A group of students above test the soilprofile, while at right a different group tests

for water quality. These tests were con-ducted at the Publishers Press Plant and

Wildlife Refuge in Bullitt County nearLebanon Junction.

Agencies involved with the National FFA Environmental/Natural ResourcesConservation Development Event were Kentucky Association of Conservation Dis-tricts; Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation; Bullitt, Woodford, Franklin, Monroe andSpencer county conservation districts; USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service;USDA/Farm Service Agency; Cooperative Extension Service; Kentucky Departmentfor Natural Resources; Division of Water; and Department for Fish and WildlifeResources.

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Land, Air & Water

License plates helpLicense plates helpLicense plates helpLicense plates helpLicense plates helppurchase 10,000 acrespurchase 10,000 acrespurchase 10,000 acrespurchase 10,000 acrespurchase 10,000 acresBy Mary Jean EddinsDepartment for Natural Resources

Drivers with Kentucky nature licenseplates have helped purchase and preservemore than 10,000 acres of natural areas,wildlife habitat and recreational areasacross the Commonwealth of Kentucky.The money generated through the sale ofthe nature plates goes into the KentuckyHeritage Land Conservation Fund for thepurchase, protection and management ofnatural areas, wildlife habitat and othersites that are valuable for their naturalconditions. Environmental fines and thestate portion of the unmined minerals taxare also added to the fund, which providesgrants for land acquisitions by stateagencies, county and local governments,and state colleges and universities.

The fund recently reached an impor-tant point in its history by providingprotection for its 10,000th acre. Dr.William H. Martin, chair of the KentuckyHeritage Land Conservation Fund Board,the entity that awards this funding, saysthe program has greatly exceeded hisexpectations in the five years since thefirst grant was awarded. “The board isproud to have reached this milestone ofprotecting 10,000 acres in such a shorttime,” Martin said. “The KentuckyLegislature had the foresightto pass legislation thatallowed this to happen.Their support and the supportof individuals who havepurchased the nature licenseplate have led to thissuccess.”

Three nature licenseplates featuring the Kentuckywarbler, the cardinal and thebobcat are available atcounty clerks’ offices. Theseplates cost an additional $10over the normal $15registration fee. The extracost is tax deductible.

The fund’s recent

(Above) Jefferson County Judge-Executive Rebecca Jacksonand members of the Kentucky Heritage Land ConservationFund Board at the grand opening of the Rayhill tract.Photos by Brian Keller

and protection efforts along FlemingCreek in the Licking River drainagesystem.

Another recent acquisition wasthe 200-acre Pearman property inLarue County, to be known as theLarue County EnvironmentalEducation Center. This purchasewas quite an accomplishment byLarue County Judge-Executive TommyTurner and the Larue County Fiscal Court.It required successful negotiations withthe 14 Pearman children and their spouses,heirs of Robert and Annabelle Pearman.The Pearman tract includes approximately100 acres of woodland, with many treesover 150 years old.

Another notable success story is thepurchase of several properties by theJefferson County Fiscal Court. Two ofthese purchases have been additions to the

Jefferson County Memorial Forest. Thepurchases, funded with Heritage Landmonies, have made the Memorial Forestthe largest publicly held urban forest inthe United States. At the grand opening ofone of the additions, known as the Rayhilltract, Jefferson County Judge-ExecutiveRebecca Jackson and Dr. Martin bothspoke about the benefits of preservingsuch areas. According to Martin, “Ken-tucky loses over 160 acres of forests andfields to development every day. It isextremely important that we identify andprotect critical areas such as this.”

If you would like more informationabout the Kentucky Heritage LandConservation Fund, please e-mail MaryJean Eddins at mary.eddins@mail.state.ky.us or call her at (502) 564-2184.If you would like to purchase a naturelicense plate, please contact your countyclerk.

acquisitions include the 811-acreBooth tract in Fleming County. TheKentucky Department of Fish andWildlife Resources acquired this tract,and it will be managed as part of theClay Wildlife Management Area.This acquisition complements thedepartment’s habitat restoration

Three nature license plates featuring abobcat (top), cardinal (center) and Ken-tucky warbler (bottom) are available atcounty clerks’ offices for $10. Purchasingthese plates help the Kentucky HeritageLand Conservation Fund purchase, protectand manage natural areas.

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Land, Air & Water

Winter salting spellstrouble for Kentucky trees

On your morning drive to workthis winter, you hope the salttrucks have hit the road ahead of

you. While their work is vital to oursafety, it can also take a serious toll on thestate’s trees. The high salt concentrationsproduced by the deicing of Kentucky’sroads, parking lots and sidewalks caninjure trees in several ways.

Snow that is pushed into piles inparking lots is often mixed with largeamounts of salt. These snow piles areshoved onto or near landscape stripscontaining trees and shrubs. High-speedinterstates and roadways generate constantsalt spray onto trees, and the salt appliedto sidewalks can readily flow with meltingsnow to nearby trees.

As salt seeps into the soil, the amountof water that soil particles can holddecreases. Trees then suffer from droughtbecause water is unavailable to their rootsystems. Salt and other ions absorbed by

the roots can accumulate to toxic levels.In addition, salt can cause secondaryeffects such as making trees moresusceptible to disease. One of these isVerticillium wilt, which interferes withabsorption of essential minerals andreduces cold hardiness.

In future years, trees can begin todevelop symptoms of leaf scorch,premature fall color, defoliation and evendeath. Salt may be considered the culpritof such problems. Reactions to salt willvary depending on species and whetherthe roots or foliage are exposed.

Differences in salt tolerances havebeen observed, and trees may generally beclassified as shown in the box below.

Very Tolerant: Bur oak, callery pear,golden raintree, red cedar, red oak,Siberian elm, white oak and willowoak.

Tolerant: Austrian pine, baldcypress, black cherry, black locust,black walnut, green ash, honey locust,Scots pine and white ash.

Moderately Tolerant: Americanelm, holly, linden, hackberry, haw-thorn, Norway spruce, red maple,hickory, sweetgum, sycamore andyellow poplar.

Intolerant: Beech, birch, crabapple,gingko, hemlock, mulberry, sugarmaple and white pine.

While salt is helpful to us during the winter season, it can bringharm to our landscape the remainder of the year.

By Diana OlszowyDivision of Forestry

The brown tips on these leaves are a suresign of leaf scorch. The tips are brown andbreak easily.

Witches’-broom, a disease often caused bysalt damage, appears as an abnormal,brushlike cluster of dwarfed, weak shootson this eastern red cedar. Division of Forestryphoto

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Land, Air & Water

Camera lets scientistspeer inside wells

By Pam Carew and Christine BrandDepartment for Surface MiningReclamation and Enforcement

Much as a doctor or nurse takes blood samples to determine the health of anindividual, groundwater sampling canreveal a great deal about the generalhealth of a watershed. Laboratoryresults from well water samples canprovide proof of mining impact or candemonstrate that other environmentalimpacts are causing a change in thegroundwater supply. However, whenthere is no water in a well, other toolsare needed to investigate problemswith the well.

Hydrogeologists for the Depart-ment for Surface Mining Reclamation andEnforcement (DSMRE) are using videocameras to verify if mining has impactedgroundwater supplies. Kentucky coalmining regulations require operators toreplace domestic water supplies damagedby surface or underground miningoperations. In order to determine if a coalmine has impacted a water supply, aninvestigation is conducted.

DSMRE hydrogeologists use a

down-hole video camera to view theinside of groundwater wells. Thisspecialized, waterproof camera isdesigned to create a running color videoas it is lowered into a well. Having theability to make a visual log of the insideof the well bore is invaluable to docu-ment the condition and construction ofthe well. For example, the camera canshow the depth of the well and how farbelow the surface its protective casingextends.

During a groundwater investigation,it is important for a scientist to know howand where water enters the well. Thedown-hole camera can help scientistsdetermine this information.

Hydrogeologists are able to use theimages shown on the camera’smonitor to explain to well ownerswhat is being observed in their wells.Photos provided by Billy Ratliff. Ratliff isthe sole operator of the down-hole camera.

The image from the camera, includinga depth figure, can be seen in real time ona monitor. The operator can pause at anypoint in the well to take a closer look, andseveral lighting attachments can helpscientists get a better look at the inside ofthe well.

Water entering a well due to fracture flow.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria are frequentnatural constituents in the microbiology ofgroundwater supplies. These bacteria causehydrogen sulfide gas to be released as a by-product when the sulfate is reduced.Hydrogen sulfide in this well has caused theiron casing to rust away exposing the wellbore.

The camera shows the corroded well casingaround the edges of the picture with waterreservoir in the center of the picture.

Direct visual observations can tell thehydrogeologists a lot about the chemistryof water in the well. For instance, redstaining on the well wall may indicate thewater supply has iron in it, which can stainappliances and fixtures in the residenceusing the well. Visual clues prompt the

investigator to look for specific detailsin the well water chemistry.

A common cause of many waterquality complaints is the presence ofbacteria, many of which form a slimecoating. Slime-forming bacteria,although unappealing, are not harmfulto humans or animals if digested. Theirpresence, however, can cause tremen-dous quality and quantity problems in awell. Bacteria can also lead to rustdamage in the well.

The video camera shows anddocuments many things that can

physically go wrong with a well. Wellscan collapse, and in some cases, the wellbore can be offset. These situations makeit difficult to remove any pumps orplumbing and can impair the amount andquality of water available to the well.

In the next issue, we will discuss howthe camera is used to help scientists andengineers determine if subsidence of theground has occurred due to undergroundmining activities.

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Land, Air & Water

Two new division directors join NREPCDivision of Energy Department for Surface Mining

After a recent fall hike intoBlanton Forest, two young girlsgave their grandmother such avivid description of the forest thatshe was inspired to donate$500,000 to the fundraisingcampaign to protect it! Anothercommitted supporter recentlywrote a check for $100,000!These gifts pushed the fundraisingeffort to more than 70 percent of

its $3.5 million goal.Blanton Forest is an old-growth forest located in eastern

Kentucky. The Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT), anonprofit organization dedicated to fundraising for BlantonForest, has an option to purchase the approximately 1,200 acresof old-growth forest that are not already owned by the KentuckyState Nature Preserves Commission. The next parcel of land in

the hierarchy for acquisition is an adjoining area of high-qualityforest containing about 750 acres, for which KNLT also has anoption. Once KNLT is able to purchase the two optioned tracts,they will be transferred to the Kentucky State Nature PreservesCommission to be dedicated as state nature preserves andprotected in perpetuity. The area would eventually be used forresearch and opened to public visitation.

You can get more details on the forest and view someimpressive photos on the Internet at www.blantonforest.org.

Your help is needed to preserve this natural asset. Whilemost folks can’t make a gift as generous as those mentionedearlier, every donation puts KNLT one step closer to its goal inthe largest natural area preservation project ever undertaken inKentucky. All donations are tax deductible. Contributions canbe sent to the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, 801Schenkel Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601, or Blanton Forest Cam-paign, c/o Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, 433 Chestnut Street,Berea, KY 40403.

Big gifts highlight effort to protectnatural treasure By Don Dott, Director

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

John Davies began serving asthe director of the KentuckyDivision of Energy onSept. 18, 2000. He replacedJohn Stapleton, who retiredfrom the division after 42 yearsin state government. Davies served as an areamanager for Ferrellgas, oversee-ing retail propane supply andservice to residential andindustrial customers in easternKentucky, West Virginia and

eastern Tennessee before joining state government in September.Davies stepped into his new job during a time of increased

focus on energy issues. “Higher energy costs have renewedpublic interest in energy conservation and energy efficiency,”Davies said. “This presents us with a great opportunity to helpthe Commonwealth become more energy efficient while promot-ing the environment and state economy; it’s an exciting anddynamic time to join Kentucky’s energy team.”

Davies’ career also includes 20 years in the U.S. Army, fromwhich he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1996. Davies servedas an energy office systems manager and manager of energyconservation programs in the Pentagon.

Davies, his wife Lisa and their two children live inLexington.

Larry Adams is the newdirector of the Division ofPermits in the Department forSurface Mining Reclamationand Enforcement. He beganwork on Sept. 18, 2000.

Adams received hisbachelor’s degree in MiningEngineering from PennsylvaniaState University in 1985 and is alicensed professional engineer inthe Commonwealth of Ken-tucky. He has worked exten-

sively with the mining industry for approximately 15 years,working as vice president/engineering manager for MiningConsulting Services Inc. and as officer/co-owner of MiningInternet Services Inc.

“I came to know many of the division personnel through mywork as a consultant,” Adams said. “I look forward to workingmore closely with them in my new capacity. I envision theDivision of Permits as seeking to strike a balance between theneeds of industry and protection of the environment.”

Adams has served as a director and past chairman of theProfessional Engineers in Mining Practice Section of the Ken-tucky Society of Professional Engineers.

He and his wife, Debbie, and their two children live inLexington.

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Web Watch

A new addition to the EnvironmentalQuality Commission’s (EQC) Web siteshowcases the efforts of dozens of com-munities to protect Kentucky’s environ-ment. EQC conducted a survey last yearof county and city officials to gauge theirenvironmental activities. After compilingits findings, EQC put them on the Internetin hopes that communities can share ideasand learn from each other.

The Best of Kentucky: A Database ofLocal Actions to Protect the Environmentshowcases the efforts of 41 communityprograms. It can be accessed by visitingthe EQC Web site www.kyeqc.net andclicking on Best of Kentucky in the menu.

EQC found that a number of commu-nities have developed successful initia-tives aimed at tackling some of ourtoughest environmental problems. Theyrange from simple roadside litter cleanupsto more complex campaigns like “It AllAdds Up to Clean Air,” an outreachprogram designed to educate people aboutair quality.

Many of these programs grew arounda specific local problem or concern. Forexample, Fleming Creek was so polluted itcould no longer be used as a water supplysource for livestock. The communitycreated the Fleming Creek WatershedProject to work with farmers to implementbest management practices to improve

water quality.The Bowling Green/Warren County

Greenbelt Commission was driven by thedesire of local leaders and citizens topreserve the unique setting of theircommunity. The group hopes to have anextensive greenbelt system of trailslinking the community together.

The Best of Kentucky is an ongoingdatabase. Communities are encouraged tosubmit programs in the areas of water,waste, land use, forestry, energy conserva-tion and protection of natural areas. Tosubmit a program, contact EQC at(502)564-2150. Programs can also besubmitted electronically at the Best ofKentucky Web site.

EQC databaseshowcases localefforts to protectthe environmentBy Leslie ColeEnvironmental Quality Commission

Would you like information aboutfree services available to assist smallbusinesses in complying with air qualityregulations?

Are you interested in learning aboutthe 2001 Air Quality Stewardship Awardsand how you can nominate a business forconsideration?

The Air Quality Small Business Website is being updated to provide easieraccess to this information. Success storiesand photos of small businesses that havebeen assisted by the Kentucky BusinessEnvironmental Assistance Program(KBEAP) are also available as well asdescriptions of the Air Quality Steward-ship Award winners.

Several new links to state and federalorganizations that provide small businessinformation have also been added.

The updated site may be accessed athttp://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dep/smbizair/index.htm or on theDivision for Air Quality home page athttp://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dep/daq/daqhome. html. Click on the“Air Quality Representative for SmallBusiness” link.

Air Qualitysmall business newsBy Rose Marie WilmothAir Quality Small Business Rep.

Who should you call if you’reconcerned about a potentially hazardouswaste in your area? How can localgovernments get help establishing arecycling program? The KentuckyDivision of Waste Management offersassistance on these and many other solidwaste issues.

The division has eight branches andthe director’s office. You can learn moreabout what each of these branches does byvisiting the division’s organizational chartat www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dep/waste/org/dwmchart.htm on the WorldWide Web.

This interactive cyber chart provides asnapshot of each branch’s mission andresponsibilities, along with the names, e-mail addresses and responsibilities ofmanagers and supervisors. Links to eachbranch home page allow you to obtain in-depth information about what each branchdoes.

The world of wasteBy Matt HackathornDivision of Waste Management

If you want to help protect Kentucky’sland, air and water resources, and you’relooking for a professional change, checkout the job openings in the KentuckyNatural Resources and EnvironmentalProtection Cabinet.

The Cabinet needs geologists, forest-ers, engineers and many other professionalsto help carry out its mission.

To learn more about the Cabinet’scurrent openings and how to apply for aposition, go to http://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/jobs/recruiting.htm on the World Wide Web.

This Internet page includes a list ofjobs the Cabinet has a critical need to filland lists benefits available to stateemployees.

Turn yourenvironmentalinterest into a career

Land, Air & Water 17

Emerging Air Quality IssuesEmerging Air Quality IssuesEmerging Air Quality IssuesEmerging Air Quality IssuesEmerging Air Quality IssuesPe

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Conference celebrates25th year

For the last quarter century, theNatural Resources and EnvironmentalProtection Cabinet (NREPC) hashosted the Governor’s Conference onthe Environment, bringing Kentuckianstogether to discuss and learn about

2000 Governor’s Conference

environmental issues facing theCommonwealth.

This year, issues focused onemerging air quality issues, thepending energy crisis, water andsewer services for all Kentuck-

ians and managing our waste.Gov. Paul Patton reviewed a

number of other topics at theconference including BlackMountain, the 1998 forestinitiative, water resources act,solid waste and smart growth, and hecommended the Cabinet’s efforts towardputting a stop to illegal dumping.

The topic of the keynote speaker was“smart growth.” Thomas Hylton,Pullitzer Prize-winning author of SaveOur Land, Save Our Towns, was thekeynote speaker. He talked about land

use and the pressures urban sprawl isThomas Hylton

Cabinet Outstanding Employees recognizedEach year, NREPC employees nominate colleagues

who go “above and beyond” in contributing to the Cabinet’smission at protecting Kentucky’s natural resources. The 1999Outstanding Employees are pictured at left.

(Top left) Department for Surface Mining Reclamationand Enforcement Outstanding Employees Steve Vance, NealBruckner Jr., Eddie Campbell, Jackie Slone, Barbara Reynoldsand Allen Luttrell, deputy commissioner.

(Top right) Office of Legal Services Outstanding EmployeeRandy McDowell.

(Middle left) Department for Environmental ProtectionOutstanding Employees James Shivel, Massoud Shoa, StuartEcton, John Brumley, Ken Cooke, Commissioner Bob Logan andPatricia Long.

(Middle right) Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commis-sion Outstanding Employee Marc Evans.

(Lower left) Secretary Bickford presents award to Secretary’sOffice Outstanding Employee Cindy Schafer, Land, Air & Watereditor.

(Lower right) Department for Natural Resources Out-standing Employees Connie Gray and Dwayne Whitlock.

placing on many Kentuckycommunities, and he showedexamples of towns and communi-ties across the country that are“growing smart.”

His slide show and talk isavailable at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/see&hear/interactive/thomashylton.htm.

Land, Air & Water18

Smart GrowthSmart GrowthSmart GrowthSmart GrowthSmart Growth

Managing Kentucky’s WasteManaging Kentucky’s WasteManaging Kentucky’s WasteManaging Kentucky’s WasteManaging Kentucky’s Waste

on the EnvironmentEnvironmental ExcellenceAwards presented Each year, deservingbusinesses, organizations andindividuals are recognized forgoing “above and beyond” intheir dedication to the steward-ship of the Commonwealth. Examples of these activitiesrange from environmentaleducation programs to innova-tive pollution preventiontechnology . . . from recyclingprograms to use of bestmanagement practices . . . from

toxic waste reduction programs and littercleanups to environmental sound siteplans.

These Kentucky citizens havedemonstrated their commitment to abetter and sustainable future forKentucky’s present and future citizensand are the recipients of this year’sEnvironmental Excellence Awards:

ForestryFather Paschal Phillips

Soil ConservationTodd County Conservation District

Energy ConservationRobin Thacker

Heritage Land ConservationWilliam Wiglesworth

Mining Reclamation — WesternKentuckyWarrior Coal Mining Company

Mining Reclamation — EasternKentuckyMcCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation

Leadership in Pollution PreventionCardinal Kitchens Inc.Johnson Controls Inc.

Community EnvironmentalLeadershipLee County Fiscal Court

Environmental EducationVersailles Montessori School

Industrial Environmental LeadershipR. R. Donnelley & Sons Co.

Two special Secretary’s Awards were given this year. The 7th-grade class at Wallins Elementary School in Harlan County con-ducted a grass-roots—and successful!—campaign to save Black Mountain. (Lower right) Sec. Bickford presented the awardtoWallins teacher JudyHensley. (Right)Brandon Campbellreceived an award forhis work on the “BottleBill,” while a studentat Estill County High.

Governor’sConference on

the Environmentphotographsprovided by

Creative Services.

Gov. Paul Patton and Secretary James Bickford

Providing Water and Sew

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ater and Sewer Services

Providing Water and Sew

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ater and Sewer Services

Providing Water and Sew

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Land, Air & Water

AwardsAwardsAwardsAwardsAwards

The Cabinet’s efforts to eliminateillegal dumps and clean up theCommonwealth earned it anEnvironmental Merit Award

from the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. The Cabinet received one of fiveawards presented to Kentuckians at aceremony in Atlanta.

“I am pleased that the EPA hasrecognized our hard work on the Clean UpKentucky program,” said James E.Bickford, secretary of the Natural Re-sources and Environmental ProtectionCabinet. “We have made great strides ineliminating illegal dumps, roadsidegarbage and straight pipe sewage dis-charges, but much work remains to bedone to clean up the Commonwealth. Ilook forward to the passage of solid wastelegislation in the next session of theGeneral Assembly that will help us cutdown on roadside litter and illegaldumping, and increase the amount ofrecycling in our state.”

The Cabinet’s Clean Up Kentuckyprogram consists of its Illegal DumpInitiative, Commonwealth Cleanup Weekand its work with the PRIDE (PersonalResponsibility in a Desirable Environ-ment) program.

The Cabinet has used field inspectorsand hidden surveillance cameras to catchillegal dumpers. Since 1996, the Cabinethas investigated 3,400 illegal dumps andissued more than 2,700 notices of

violation to illegal dumpers. Thoseindividuals have cleaned up 854dumps, removing more than 3,100tons of trash in the process.

The Cabinet is also a partner inthe PRIDE program. PRIDE is ajoint effort between U.S. Rep. HalRogers, the Cabinet, federal and

local agencies and volunteers. Theprogram covers 40 southeast Kentuckycounties and provides grants for localcleanup activities, recycling efforts andenvironmental education. PRIDE alsofinances loans for septic systems to endstraight pipe sewage discharges.

Commonwealth Cleanup Week, heldannually during the fourth week inMarch, is a Cabinet effort to “springclean” Kentucky. This year, more than

EPA recognizes Cabinet’sefforts to clean up KentuckyBy Heather FrederickPublic Information and Education Branch

Other Kentucky winners are:

Cam Metcalf, executive director of the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Centerin Louisville. Metcalf was recognized as a pioneer in the implementation of Supple-mental Environmental Projects (SEPs) and Environmental Management Systems(EMS). SEPs are environmental projects companies perform as restitution for violatingenvironmental laws or regulations. EMS are plans businesses use to achieve continualimprovements in their environmental performance.

Jennifer Thompson, program manager at the Kentucky Natural ResourcesLeadership Institute in Lexington. The EPA recognized her for teaching students toresolve conflicts over environmental issues and to effectively communicate withpolicymakers. She also encourages them to take active roles in environmental issues.

Lafarge Gypsum in Silver Grove, Ky. This company received an award for itsstate-of-the-art drywall production facility. The facility uses recycled materials for allof its primary raw material requirements. The plant also has plans to recycle all wastewallboard and process water.

Friends of McConnell Springs in Lexington. This nonprofit group cleaned upMcConnell Springs, a site on the National Register of Historic Places. The site used tobe an illegal dump. The group also brought together the public, community groups andbusinesses to fund and build an educational resource center at McConnell Springs.

16,000 volunteers across the stateremoved trash from roadsides, illegaldumps and waterways.

The Cabinet’s cleanup efforts wereamong more than 250 nominations forthe inaugural Environmental MeritAwards. “Those honored today havegone above and beyond the call of duty toaddress public health and natural resourceprotection issues of concern and, in sodoing, have made this region a betterplace for all of us,” said John H.Hankinson, Jr., EPA Regional Adminis-trator in Atlanta.

(Above left) Secretary James Bickfordaccepts the Cabinet’s Environmental MeritAward from John Hankinson Jr., regionaladministrator, EPA Region IV. Photo byHeather Frederick

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Land, Air & Water

AwardsAwardsAwardsAwardsAwards

The Kentucky Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement(DSMRE) has received national recognition for its work at the former Pleasant Viewmine site in Hopkins County. The department received the 2000 National AbandonedMine Land Reclamation Award from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclama-tion and Enforcement (OSM).

“The Pleasant View mine project is an example of what can happen whengovernment and the private sector work together to accomplish good things for thecitizens of our Commonwealth,” said Carl Campbell, DSMRE commissioner.“Through the determination and hard work of the personnel at the Division ofAbandoned Mine Lands, and the expertise and dedication to a job well done by thecontractor, Rust of Kentucky, an environmental eyesore and potentially hazardoussite has turned back into a beautiful and productive area. The citizens of Madisonvilleand Hopkins County can and will use it as a recreational site for many years tocome.”

The 250-acre strip mining site marked the largest reclamation project everconducted by the Commonwealth. The reclaimed area used to be called “KetchupLake” because of a 30-acre, red, acidic impoundment on the property. Runoff fromthe impoundment devastated aquatic life in nearby Greasy Creek. The site was alsoused as a waste area for refuse from nearby underground mines.

Rust of Kentucky treated and released the water in “Ketchup Lake,” moved acidspoil on the site, covered the site with soil and re-established vegetation on theproperty. Rust completed the reclamation in November 1999. Since then, signs ofaquatic life have returned to Greasy Creek, and the former mining site yielded enoughvegetation for a hay harvest. The site’s owner, Consol Coal Company, donated it tothe city of Madisonville last fall.

Each year, the U.S. Interior Department’s OSM sponsors a competition to honorthe best examples of abandoned mine land reclamation in the country. Judges fromeach OSM field office and the State and Tribal AML Office gave their highest scoresto the Kentucky project.

“I commend our nationalwinners for the good workthey’ve done in reclaimingour precious landscapes,” saidInterior Secretary BruceBabbitt. “Their efforts anddedication to restoring theland demonstrate that wedon’t have to sacrifice astrong economy for a clean,healthy environment.”

Department for Surface Miningwins national awardBy Heather FrederickPublic Information and Education Branch

Grass now covers this formerabandoned mine site, giving nohint of the acid spoil that used tocover this area. Photo by J. Hamon

10

Matt HackathornDivision of Waste Management

Ten organizations received awardsfor their outstanding recycling pro-grams during America Recycles Day inNovember. The Kentucky NaturalResources and Environmental Protec-tion Cabinet presented the “Who’s Whoof Recycling” award to manufacturers,nonprofit groups, universities and otherorganizations.

America Recycles Day is an eventdesigned to encourage the public torecycle and to buy recycled products.

Solid waste coordinators fromacross the state nominated organiza-tions with strong recycling programs intheir areas. Nominees were judgedbased on the number of different itemsrecycled, the volume recycled and theorganization’s commitment to “closingthe recycling loop,” meaning purchas-ing items with recycled content. Andthe winners were….

Food CityGeneral Motors Corvette Assembly PlantKroger CorporationL’Oreal USA ProductsMallinckrodt Baker Inc.Morehead State UniversityMurray State UniversityPepsi-Cola Bottling Company of CorbinUniversity of LouisvilleWestern Kentucky University

receiveawardsfor recyclingefforts

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