Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet

Volume 16 Number 3Summer 2005

Land, Air & Water is publishedquarterly by the Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet with state and federalfunds. Subscription to this publication isfree. Write the Office of Communications

and Public Outreach, 5th Floor, CapitalPlaza Tower, Frankfort, KY 40601 or phone(502) 564-5525 to have your name added to

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faxed to (502) 564-3354.

The Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet does not discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability and provides, on request, reasonableaccommodations including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford an individual with adisability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs and activities. Torequest materials in an alternative format, contact the Office of Communications and PublicOutreach, 5th Floor, Capital Plaza Tower, Frankfort, KY 40601 or call (502) 564-5525.Hearing- and speech-impaired persons can contact the agency by using the Kentucky RelayService, 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, Mary Jean Eddins,Gwen Holt, Leslie Isaman, Lola Lyle,

Dana Norton, Elizabeth Robb,Lee Ruggles, Kate Shanks,

Eva Smith-Carroll,Rose Marie Wilmoth and Chuck Wolfe

Visit Land, Air & Water magazine on the World Wide Web atwww.environment.ky.gov/law/default.htm

Online

State of KentuckyErnie Fletcher, Governor

EditorDesign & Production

Cindy Schafer

Environmental andPublic Protection Cabinet

LaJuana S. Wilcher, Secretary

Department for EnvironmentalProtection

Lloyd R. Cress, Commissioner

Department for Natural ResourcesSusan Carole Bush, Commissioner

Department of Public ProtectionChristopher Lilly, Commissioner

Department of LaborPhilip Anderson, Commissioner

A healthy state—that is not only the title of the 29th Governor’s Conference onthe Environment, but also a goal. A state that contains a healthy environment and ahealthy economy, with healthy citizens as well.

The conference, which will be held in September, will examine the full circle ofour environment—a natural environment that benefits a healthy workforce that drivesa vibrant economy that protects the environment.

National and local speakers will give presentations on how we can focus ourefforts on having an environment that is viable for the economy and conducive tobeing outdoors and participating in an active lifestyle.

The primary sponsor of the conference is the Environmental and Public Protec-tion Cabinet. Again this year, the Commerce Cabinet and the Cabinet for EconomicDevelopment will be participating as co-sponsors, and in keeping with the idea that ahealthy environment produces healthy citizens, the Cabinet for Health and FamilyServices will also be a conference co-sponsor.

The panel sessions will include the following topics: A Healthy Community, AHealthy Environment, Healthy Citizens and A Healthy Economy. Speakers are beinginvited who will provide national, state and local perspectives in each of these areas.Particular emphasis is being placed on sharing opportunities that are transferable on alocal or regional level. The planning committee is also researching possible tours inthe area.

The 29th Governor’s Conference on the Environment will be held Sept. 26-27 inLouisville at the Hyatt Regency Louisville. Visit the Governor’s Conference Web siteat http://www.environment.ky.gov/govconference.htm for additional details as theybecome available.

Conference registration and hotel information are also available on the Web site,or you may contact Boyce Wells at (502) 564-2150 ext. 137.

Governor’s Conferenceon the Environmentcoming soonBy Boyce WellsDepartment for Environmental Protection

what’s inside

Printed by Post PrintingLexington, Kentucky

on the cover

contentsGovernor’s Conference on the Environment coming soon ................................................... Inside front coverWhat is “e-scrap” and why is it a concern? .................................. 2Brownfield strategy promotes cleanup of abandoned properties ................................................................................. 3Naval Ordnance Station Louisville project nears successful completion ............................................................................... 4A watershed development ............................................................. 5Kentucky spearheads initiative for drug- and alcohol-free mines ................................................................... 6Mercury spills become a health concern ....................................... 8Earth Day every day ..................................................................... 9Ozone season is in full swing...................................................... 10Certification programs ensure qualified and skilled operators ... 12Workshop promotes high-performance schools .......................... 12Flood maps are being modernized .............................................. 13Kentucky Watershed Roundtable set for November ................... 15Recycling in Kentucky just got a little easier ............................. 15Grants help improve state’s water quality ................................... 16Across the Americas ................................................................... 17‘Hot spots’ and priority watersheds identified for imperiled fishes and mussels ............................................ 17Awards ................................................................................... 19-20Clay named EPPC deputy secretary ............................. Back cover

This landscape of pale purple coneflower (Echinaceapallida) was photographed by Thomas G. Barnes,University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry.

Summer 2005Volume 16 Number 3

7

1

14features

1 Coal industry gets guidance to reducerisks of black water spillsTask force releases recommendations based onimpoundment visits, effects of previous spills andhistoric data.

14 Nonpoint source pollution studiescompleteTwo areas of Kentucky receive groundwatertesting to monitor the impacts of pollution.

7 Hybrid technology in demandEPPC sets the example by purchasing gas-electricvehicles to save tax dollars and fuel economy.

Land, Air & Water 1

Last April Governor Ernie Fletcherreleased a report that included recommen-dations and best management practices(BMPs) for Kentucky’s coal industry thatare designed to substantially reduce therisk of black water spills.

Under the guidance of GovernorFletcher and Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet (EPPC) SecretaryLaJuana S. Wilcher, the seven-memberBlack Water Task Force assembled theBMPs after working for a year to assessthe causes and impacts of black waterspills in Kentucky.

The task force, which includedrepresentatives of environmental organiza-tions, state agencies and Kentucky’s coalindustry, reached consensus on whatactions coal companies can take tominimize the occurrence and severity ofspills in the Commonwealth.

“The leaders of environmental andcoal organizations, universities and stateagencies worked cooperatively in develop-ing these recommendations, which couldminimize the impacts caused by blackwater spills,” Governor Fletcher stated.

Coal being prepared for commercialuse typically is washed with large amountsof water. Black water spills occur whenthis water, or slurry, is discharged fromcoal impoundments, sediment ponds, roadsor during coal mining-related activities.Spills such as the devastating 2000 MartinCounty slurry spill are caused when slurryor other coal waste seeps into and leaksfrom underground mine works locatedbelow a slurry pond or impoundment.

Spills adversely impact water quality,harm aquatic life and damage property.Thirteen spills occurred during December2003 and January 2004. These spillsfouled miles of Kentucky’s waterways andprompted Governor Fletcher and SecretaryWilcher to launch a task force to analyzethe problem.

Task force members toured coalpreparation plants and slurry impound-ments in western and eastern Kentucky.They gathered and reviewed data onhistoric trends of water quality violations,effects of spills on stream ecology andpotential toxicity of black water fromheavy metals and organic compounds.

The research led the task force tocompile a series of BMPs for the coalindustry that are designed to be effective,yet easy to implement, low-cost ways toreduce spills and the impact of spills onthe environment. Findings on blackwater’s impact on aquatic life and humanhealth are also in the report.

“The goal of the Black Water TaskForce was the significant reduction orelimination of black water spills inKentucky,” said Bill K. Caylor, presidentof the Kentucky Coal Association and atask force member.

“Through dialogue, education and aspirit of compromise, the task forcemembers developed progressive recom-mendations to achieve this goal. SecretaryWilcher is to be commended for heraggressive resolve to address this prob-lem,” said Caylor.

Judy Petersen, director of the Ken-tucky Waterways Alliance was also on thetask force. “I believe that through therecommendations, we will work toaccomplish our goal of reducing black

Recommendations releasedto minimize black water spillsin Kentucky

LEFT: Members of the Black Water TaskForce receive a tour of Ohio Coal Company’sBig Run underground mine.

BELOW: Task force members and otherswho contributed to the black water reportspent a year assessing causes and impacts ofblack water spills in Kentucky before puttingtogether BMPs for the coal industry to use tohelp reduce the number of black waterincidents in the state. Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet photos

By Dana NortonOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

Continued on Page 11

Land, Air & Water2

E-scrap is electronic scrap—“end-of-life” telephones and cell phones, TVs,computers and associated equipment,audio/stereo gear, VCRs, DVDs and videogame consoles.

It is a concern because these elec-tronic appliances contain toxics that can beharmful unless properly handled.

Then there’s the sheer volume.Electronics entering the waste stream eachyear are measured in the millions. Cur-rently e-scrap is about two percent of thesolid waste stream—that’s 100,000 tons ofe-scrap per year in Kentucky alone—andis the fastest growing waste category.

Up to 130 million cell phones are“retired” each year, according to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).A study by Carnegie Mellon University’sGreen Design Initiative estimates that theequivalent of 220 million computers willbe e-scrap in2005. The goodnews is that 150million of thattotal will berecycled, thestudy predicts.

Individualsmay legallydispose ofelectronicequipment in their garbage, provided thatlocal landfills will accept it. Citizensshould contact the solid waste coordinatorin their county to be sure. Businesses and

institutions must handle their electronicdevices and components in a mannerconsistent with state and federal laws.

In any event,the KentuckyDivision of WasteManagementstrongly encour-ages responsiblemanagement ofelectronicequipment. Somesuggestions:

• Recyclethrough e-recycling drives or directly to ane-scrap recycler.

• Resell or donate usable equipment.A tip from Techsoup.org (The Technology

Place for Nonprofits):it works out best foreverybody if youdonate a computer toa nonprofit or school-based refurbisherrather than directly toa school or charity. Ifyour computer ismore than five yearsold, send it to acommercial recycler.

By Eva Smith-CarrollDivision of Waste Management

What is “e-scrap” and why is it a concern?

According to the U.S. EPA, hereis what can be found in e-scrap:

Cadmium—found in chip resistors,infrared detectors and semiconductors.

Lead—found in glass panels incomputer monitors and in leadsoldering of printed circuit boards.

Mercury—found in thermostats,position sensors, relays and switches(e.g., on printed circuit boards),discharge lamps and batteries. It isalso used in medical equipment, datatransmission, telecommunications andmobile phones.

Hexavalent Chromium or Chro-mium VI—can be used to protectagainst corrosion of untreated andgalvanized steel plates.

Brominated Flame Retardants—found on printed circuit boards,components such as plastic covers andcables as well as plastic covers oftelevisions.

Continued on Page 11

First came “electronic mail” in 1977,followed by e-mail in 1982. The rest ishistory. In 1998, the American DialectSociety named “e” the Word of the Year“because hyphenated prefix e- loomed solarge in American discourse.”

“e” is for electronic

ABOVE and BELOW: Electronics collected during a recycling drive. Photos courtesy ofLouisville Metro’s Cyber Cycle program

Land, Air & Water 3

By Herb PetitjeanDivision of Compliance Assistance

Brownfields are properties that areabandoned or underutilized due to real orperceived contamination.

By encouraging private companies toinvest in brownfields, Kentucky willimprove human health, the environment,economic development and propertyvalues.

The legislation closely aligns the stateenvironmental liability provisions withfederal law. One provision providesliability protection for Bona Fide Prospec-tive Purchasers (BFPPs). To qualify, thepurchaser must:

Have no affiliation with theresponsible party.

Purchase the property with fullawareness of contamination likely to beencountered.

Commit to acting in a responsiblemanner.

Brownfield strategy promotes cleanupof abandoned properties

To encourage private companies to clean up and reuse brownfields, the Kentucky General Assembly recently enacted legislationthat addresses issues with cleanup costs and potential liability that have discouraged developers in the past from reclaimingbrownfields.

Qualifying as a BFPP gives a pur-chaser access to new tax incentives. To beeligible, a contaminated property must nothave a responsible party who is financiallyable to perform the cleanup. The BFPPmust also enter the Kentucky VoluntaryEnvironmental Remediation Program.

Upon completing the remediationprogram, the BFPP receives a “covenantnot to sue” from the state. The purchaser isthen eligible for an income tax credit up to$150,000 for the cost of environmentalcleanup. Additionally, the propertycovered by a covenant not to sue will notbe subject to any local property tax for aperiod of three years. State property taxwill be assessed at a discounted rate forthe same three-year period.

The final piece of the new Kentuckybrownfield strategy is adoption of theUniform Environmental Covenant Act(UECA). Many times it is not practical to

completely remove contamination from aproperty. In such cases, a cap may beplaced over the waste, the property may belimited to industrial uses or other measuresmay be taken.

In the past, deed restrictions wereplaced on the property to ensure that capor usage restrictions were maintained.However, real estate laws were notdesigned to address contaminated proper-ties, and there were legal difficulties withlong-term enforcement of these manage-ment plans. The UECA provides astronger legal tool to enforce theserestrictions. It will make regulators,property owners, local governments,environmental groups, developers, lendersand title companies more comfortablerelying on barriers and land use controls aspart of brownfield cleanup. The act alsoresolves questions raised by instances offoreclosure, bankruptcy, eminent domainand adverse possession.

For additional information about theKentucky Brownfield Program, contactHerb Petitjean, Division of ComplianceAssistance at (800) 926-8111 ore-mail herb.petitjean@ky.gov

Governor Ernie Fletcher signs the Tax Reform Act, which included several provisions topromote redevelopment of brownfields. Creative Services photo

Encourage environmentalcleanups

Reduce the risks to humanhealth

Promote recycling ofbrownfields

Encourage preservation of fieldsand forests

Increase the tax base throughhigher property values

Add new jobs

Provisionslegislationof the

Land, Air & Water4

The end of an era is quickly ap-proaching for the former NavalOrdnance Station Louisville

(NOSL).After nine years of concentrated effort

by state, federal and city agencies, theNavy and environmental contractors havegiven the World War II-era facility a newname and a new lease on life. Thistransformation took place under thefederal Base Realignment and Closure Act(BRAC).

“The commitment of the Navy, theU.S. Environmental Protection Agencyand the Environmental and Public Protec-tion Cabinet (EPPC) to a partneringprocess was central to the timely character-ization and cleanup of this site,” said TonyHatton, assistant director of the Divisionof Waste Management, who worked on theproject.

The partnership has been such asuccess that the former NOSL ranksnationally as one of the fastest BRAC sitesto complete remediation and final transfer.

NOSL, located a half mile west of theLouisville International Airport, beganoperations in late 1941 as a government-owned, contractor-operated facility thatmass-produced, machined and assembledweapons systems for the Navy. It hasessentially been in operation since thattime.

In 1995, NOSL was slated for closureas a government facility under BRAC butwas selected for reuse under aprivatization program. The Louisville/Jefferson County Redevelopment Author-ity proposed a plan to the Navy to continueoperations at the facility. The Navyaccepted that plan, and the facility wasprivatized in late 1996 under a lease fromthe Navy to the authority.

The site was renamed TechnologyPark of Greater Louisville (view thefacility online at http://www.technologypark.net) and continues tosupport the Navy contractors. The Navytransferred the facility to the combinedLouisville/Jefferson County Governmentin early 2004.

The Navy still maintains cleanupobligations under the hazardous wastepermit for the facility. The permit wasoriginally issued in 1986 by the Divisionof Waste Management and renewed in

1996. The permit specifies requirementsfor managing hazardous waste andconducting cleanup at the facility. Apending modification to the permitdocument reflects the environmental workthat has been completed and the cleanupactivities that will be accomplished in thefuture.

In 1997, the Navy transferredoversight of the facility to its SouthernDivision, headquartered in South Carolina.Since that time, the Navy has workedclosely with all stakeholders to moveforward at an accelerated pace.

Several EPPC agencies were involvedin the project. The Division of WasteManagement’s Hazardous Waste Branch,

Naval Ordnance Station Louisvilleproject nears successful completion

along with the staff of the former Uni-versity of Kentucky Federal FacilitiesOversight Unit, played a major role in thetimely investigation and remediation of thesite. The Division of EnvironmentalServices’ Risk Assessment Branch and thecabinet’s Office of Legal Services wereinstrumental in getting the site to this pointof completion in a relatively short periodtime. Other partners were the EPA,

Louisville/Jefferson County Redevelop-ment Authority and the local RestorationAdvisory Board.

The Navy conducted many investiga-tions and cleanup activities at the site since1995, including sampling and analyzingsoils at more than 1,300 locations,sampling and analyzing groundwater from110 groundwater monitoring wells,performing five major and 120 minor soilremoval actions, removing more than15,000 tons of contaminated soils,removing or closing all 49 undergroundstorage tanks and cleaning all sumps, pitsand drainage ditches. To date, the Navyhas spent about $30 million on investiga-tions and remediation at the site.

By William HolskeyDivision of Waste Management

Aerial view of Technology Park of GreaterLouisville, former Naval Ordnance StationLouisville. Photo provided by the Louisville/Jefferson County Redevelopment Authority

Land, Air & Water 5

Kentucky and Tennessee, known more for the rivalriesnurtured over decades of competition for tourism,economic development and athletic supremacy, are

engaging in some notable cooperation for the sake of their sharedenvironment.

Governor Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky and Governor PhilBredesen of Tennessee in April signed an agreement—a statementof principles—establishing a pilot project for interstate environ-mental cooperation.

Each state’s top environmental officer—LaJuana S. Wilcher,secretary of the Kentucky Environmental and Public ProtectionCabinet, and Betsy L. Child, outgoing commissioner of theTennessee Department of Environment and Conservation—alsosigned the agreement.

The initial focus of the project is on management andprotection of the two states’ common watersheds—geographicregions that drain into streams, river systems or other bodies ofwater. Among the partnership’s many advantages is that bothstates, sharing information, will be better able to identify waterquality problems along their mutual border. The concept of apartnership also recognizes that a waterway is a system, andproblems do not occur in isolation.

“We are connected by a web of streams and rivers,” Wilchersaid. “Watersheds are defined by ridges. They don’t followpolitical boundaries. They don’t stop at the state line. Anythingthat happens upstream will have an effect on water qualitydownstream.”

The two-state partnership will deal initially with four riverbasin areas: the Red River basin of the Cumberland Riverwatershed; Mud Creek and Elk Fork basins of the UpperCumberland watershed; Big South Fork River basin of the UpperCumberland; and the East Fork of the Clarks River watershed.

Margo Farnsworth, executive director of the CumberlandRiver Compact, a nonprofit educational organization based inNashville, Tenn., said Kentucky and Tennessee were “visionary”in striking an agreement without waiting for a crisis. She said itshould give both states a stronger argument for federal waterfunding, which is getting harder to come by.

“Resources are shrinking, so collaboration is

the way we have to do business,” Farnsworth said.“It’s collaborate or die.”

Farnsworth and other proponents hopethe partnership also will bring some consistencyto water monitoring and help make the publicmore knowledgeable about river issues.

Someone comparing water qualityreports from each state—but who didn’tknow that Kentucky and Tennessee used

TOP: Debbie Hamilton, Clarksville, Tenn., and Hugh Duguid,Hopkinsville, Ky., take samples in the Lower Cumberland RiverWatershed. Photo by Ken CookeBACKGROUND: A scenic expanse of the Cumberland River.Photo provided by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

A watersheddevelopment

Kentucky, Tennessee sign environmental cooperation agreement

By Chuck WolfeOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

Ten million people live within watersheds in Kentuckyand Tennessee. No tedious math is required here: It’s simplythe combined populations of the two states because every-one – no matter where – lives in a watershed.

All of Kentucky and Tennessee lies within the Missis-sippi River watershed, one of the largest in the world.Watersheds of three other large rivers – the Cumberland,Tennessee and Green – are shared by the two states.

At least 68 smaller watersheds also overlap the Ken-tucky-Tennessee boundary, collectively covering 1,612square miles – about 24 square miles each, on average,according to the Kentucky Division of Water.

On top of those are an indeterminable number ofsmaller watersheds with intermittent streams or drainageways.

Small watersheds in Kentucky and Tennessee convergewith progressively larger watersheds, eventually draininginto the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.

WATERSHEDS CONNECT US

Continued on Page 12

Land, Air & Water6

The Mine Substance Abuse TaskForce, created to address the increasingconcern about drug and alcohol abuse atmine sites, held its first meeting in Marchat the Hazard Community and TechnicalCollege. The task force includes repre-sentatives from Kentucky, Virginia andWest Virginia, the federal government,the mining industry and labor. Themultistate task force spent the daydiscussing what topics would be studiedin depth, including ways to determine theextent of the problem and to identifyregional trends.

The issue was initially addressed inDecember during a one-day summit,“Keeping America’s Mines Drug andAlcohol Free.” It was hosted by thestates of Kentucky, Virginia and WestVirginia and by the U.S. Mine Safety andHealth Administration (MSHA).

More than 200 participants providedanecdotal and statistical information andoffered general recommendations foraddressing this growing concern. Thetask force is utilizing the recommenda-tions of the summit as it studies the issue.

“Substance abuse has become aserious safety issue in coal mines,” saidKentucky Department for NaturalResources Commissioner Susan Bushduring the opening remarks. “The chargeof this task force is to compile a report ofrecommendations on how to best addressthis problem for the benefit and safety ofthe working miner.”

Paris Charles, executive director ofthe Kentucky Office of Mine Safety andLicensing, added, “I have learned fromresearching this issue that the mostprevalent substance abused where I’mfrom in Pike County is cocaine. But inother counties it is perhaps methamphet-amine or abuse of prescription painkill-ers.” Statistics from Operation UNITE(Unlawful Narcotics Investigation,Treatment and Education) will help

identify prevalent drugs abused byregion.

The task force will make use ofexisting research and communityresources. However, the sensitivity ofthe substance abuse issue necessitates athorough understanding of the lawsregarding an individual’s right to privacy.

In future meetings, speakers withtechnical expertise in the federal healthinsurance law known as HIPPA – HealthInsurance Portability and AccountabilityAct of 1996 – and the computerized drugtracking system known as KASPER –Kentucky All Schedule PrescriptionElectronic Reporting program – will beasked to make presentations on privacyissues and potential opportunities forsharing information.

The task force plans to use a varietyof experts to fully explore:

capabilities, restrictions andreliability of various drug and alcoholscreening and testing procedures;

drug treatment options;workers’ compensation insurance;incentives (increased productivity,

deceased theft, decreased absenteeismand lower worker’s compensation rates)for companies who begin drug testingprograms;

a tracking mechanism for minerswho change mines or cross state lines toavoid drug testing;

the handling of contractors workingat the mine (e.g., truck drivers andservice representatives)

The diversity of the task forceindicates that their recommendationswill be the culmination of carefulconsideration from all the organizationsrepresented.

The work of this task force willprovide valuable information to state andfederal governments as well as industryand labor representatives as the statemoves forward to eliminate the problemof substance abuse in the mines.

Kentucky spearheads initiativefor drug- and alcohol-free minesBy Linda Potter and Holly McCoyDepartment for Natural Resources

Tom Asbury, Black MountainResources; Ronnie Brock, MSHA;Dave Blankenship, TECO Coal Co.;Commissioner Susan Bush, KentuckyDepartment for Natural Resources;Paris Charles, executive director,Kentucky Office of Mine Safety andLicensing; Helen Churilla, ConsolEnergy Corp.; Greg Damron, Chey-enne Elkhorn Coal Co.; Steve Earle,United Mine Workers of America;Carroll Green, Virginia Division ofMines; David Hay, Kentucky Employ-ers Mutual Insurance Co.; MikeHymes, ICG Industries Inc.; KarenJones, Kentucky Office of DrugControl Policy; Frank Linkous,Virginia Division of Mines; BenSpears, Kentucky Mining Board; andDoug Conaway, West Virginia Officeof Miners Health, Safety and Training.

The task force plans to meetmonthly for approximately six monthsto gather data and information.

Mine Substance Abuse TaskForce members include:

Poster courtesy of the U.S. Mine Safety andHealth Administration

Land, Air & Water 7

Secretary Wilcher said the fleet pur-chases supported the philosophy of

Governor Fletcher’s administration.“Governor Fletcher and this cabinet arecommitted to saving tax dollars andprotecting the environment by using thisfuel-efficient technology,” Wilcher said.“Governor Fletcher pledged to make stategovernment more efficient, and the use ofhybrid vehicles is just one example of thatcommitment in action.”

These purchases have also comeabout due to Wilcher’s ability to workacross cabinet lines. During the EarthWeek kickoff at the Capitol on April 18,2005 (see Earth Day every day on Page9), Wilcher thanked Finance and Adminis-tration Cabinet Secretary Robbie Rudolphand Transportation Cabinet ActingSecretary Bill Nighbert for their assistancein making it possible for the EPPC toacquire these vehicles. The cabinet began

replacing large sedans with hybrids lastyear to save tax dollars and increase fuelefficiency.

City-highway mileage for thecabinet’s Prius vehicles has averaged 47.6miles per gallon, compared with 21.5 mpgthat was typical of the larger sedans. “In-town” mileage has been 59 mpg for thePrius, compared with 16 mpg for othersedans. In addition, the federal govern-ment includes the Prius among vehiclesrated best for reduced “greenhouse gas”emissions and minimal air pollution.

Hybrid technology received its namebecause it utilizes two sources of power—a gasoline motor and an electric motorpowered by a battery—to achieve fuelefficiency. Most hybrids, including thePrius, use energy generated from brakingto recharge the battery. In conventionalautomobiles, this energy is lost as heat.The electric motor is used to assist theengine during heavy acceleration or whengoing up hills. This allows for a smallerengine, which reduces fuel consumption.

The battery also takes over when thecar is stopped in traffic, minimizing idlingand thus reducing fuel consumption,automobile emissions and noise. Thereduction of engine idling explains whyfuel efficiency is better in town rather thanon the highway for some hybrids. It also isespecially promising for reducing autoemissions in towns and cities, which oftenhave high pollution indexes in part fromautomobile idling during peak traffic flow.Engine idling is one of the most pollutingparts of driving an automobile.

The demand for hybrid technology ishigh, with waiting lists for these cars beingas short as two weeks and as long as oneor more years. News reports indicatepeople are paying a premium for usedhybrids to avoid waiting. Production isexpected to increase with demand, asevidenced by Toyota’s announcement thatit plans to build a hybrid Camry at its plantin Georgetown, Ky. The Camry wasAmerica’s top-selling car last year, andToyota hopes to make 48,000 hybridversions each year.

Thanks to the leadership of Governor Ernie Fletcher and Secretary LaJuana S.Wilcher, the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC) has incorporatedseveral gas-electric hybrid vehicles into its fleet. Four Toyota Prius and two FordEscape hybrids, which reduce fuel cost and consumption along with minimizing airpollution, were added this year to the cabinet’s fleet to benefit Kentucky taxpayers.

Hybrid vehicles addedto cabinet fleetBy Elizabeth RobbDivision for Air Quality

• Keep your vehicle well tuned—simple maintenance will lengthen the life of your car as well asimprove fuel economy and minimize emissions.• Get regular oil changes—replacing the oil and oil filter regularly will also help fuel economy.• Inflate your tires—check tire pressure at least once a month and maintain it at manufacturerspecifications. Properly inflated tires save fuel by reducing the amount of drag your engine mustovercome.• Keep track of your gas mileage—a drop in your car’s fuel economy can be a sign of engine trouble.• Follow the speed limit—driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph will increase your fuel economy by about10 percent.• Take a load off—the heavier your car, the more gas it uses. Don’t carry unnecessary weight. Everyextra 100 pounds costs about a half-mile per gallon.• Avoid drag—if you drive with a roof rack, aerodynamic drag increases and results in higher fuelconsumption. Remove your roof rack when it is not in use.• Try not to idle for more than a minute—during startup, your engine burns extra gasoline. Onceunder way, however, letting your engine idle for more than a minute will burn even more fuel than turningoff the engine and restarting it.

Driving tips for cleaner air

Continued on Page 15

EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher drivesone of the cabinet’s new Toyota Prius hybridsthat will help save taxpayer dollars andincrease fuel efficiency. Photo by CreativeServices

Land, Air & Water8

Mercury spills in four Kentuckyschools in recent months prompted stateagencies to release guidelines on howteachers and administrators can containspills and minimize students’ exposure tothe poisonous, metallic element.

The Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet (EPPC), the EducationCabinet and the Cabinet for Health andFamily Services (CHFS) collaborated onthe guidelines and sent them to schoolsuperintendents statewide. The cases thatprompted the guidelines occurred inMadison, Marshall, Kenton and LaRuecounties.

“We realized we needed to get someinformation to our schools about how theycan take some proactive measures,” saidGuy Delius, assistant director of the CHFSDivision of Public Health Protection andSafety.

Elemental mercury, or “quicksilver,”is used in glass thermometers. Despiteefforts by Kentucky schools to removemercury thermometers from scienceclassrooms, small spills still occur.

The recent spills were unusual in thatstudents brought mercury to school. In oneincident, a student unwittingly contami-nated parts of a school building aftertaking mercury to a science teacher foridentification. In another, a student openeda jar containing mercury while on a schoolbus.

Mercury occurs naturally in air, waterand soil. Elemental mercury, though ametal—shiny, heavy and silver-white—turns to liquid at room temperature, andlike other liquids it evaporates. Mercuryfumes are odorless but toxic.

“It is highly volatile. It will evaporate.It puts off fumes,” said Bill Burger,manager of the EPPC’s Division of WasteManagement’s Field Operations Branch.

Exposure to these fumes—especiallylong-term exposure—can cause permanentbrain damage and can harm kidneys anddeveloping fetuses, according to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.

Mercury is used in some thermostats,light switches and fluorescent light bulbs,navigational devices and in instruments

What not to do:• Do not touch mercury. Mercury was once freely handled in science classrooms, but exposure tomercury through skin contact can be dangerous.• Do not vacuum the mercury. Heat from a vacuum can spread vapors.• Do not use a broom or soak up mercury with a rag. This can break up and scatter pieces of mercury.• Do not use household cleaning products. Products with ammonia or chlorine can combine withmercury to create a toxic gas.• Do not pour mercury down a drain. Do not wash contaminated items in a washing machine.To clean up a small spill:• Remove people—especially children and pregnant women—and pets from the area and keep themfrom walking through the mercury.• Turn off ventilation systems. Mercury can adhere to dust particles and spread throughout entiresystems.• Open windows and doors, and ventilate the area for 24 hours. Mercury vapors are easily spread inwarm, poorly ventilated areas.• Use liquid-proof gloves and protective eye gear. Remove all jewelry before cleanup begins. Mercurywill bond with many metals.• Locate all visible mercury beads. Use a flashlight. Beads can roll far away from a spill site.• Use two stiff pieces of paper or a squeegee and paper to collect large beads.• Collect small beads with an eye dropper or with the sticky side of duct tape. A small amount ofshaving cream on a brush also can be used to collect small beads.• Place all beads on a paper towel and place the towel in a Ziploc bag.• Place the bag, any tools you used and contaminated shoes and clothing in a garbage bag.• Wash your hands with soap and water.• Contact your solid waste coordinator for information on safe disposal methods.

MERCURY SPILL GUIDELINES

that measure temperatureand pressure. It also isused to repair dentalcavities.

Cleaning up mercurycan be tedious and costly.When dropped, liquidmercury breaks into beadsthat can roll into cracks infloors, become lodged incarpet fibers and adhereto many surfaces. Large-scale cleanup efforts cancost schools thousands ofdollars.

Small spills like thefew grams of mercuryfound in a thermometercan be cleaned up safely by homeowners ifcorrect actions are taken quickly. If morethan a few grams are spilled, it is impor-tant to contact the EPPC’s Division ofWaste Management, your local poisoncontrol center or local emergency responsepersonnel. Two pounds of mercury isroughly two tablespoons.

The following guidelines summarizehow to contain and clean up a mercury

Mercury spills become a health concernBy Dana NortonOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

spill in your home. These guidelines are byno means a complete list of what to do.More information about mercury cleanupcan be found at http://www.waste.ky.gov,http://www.epa.gov/mercury/disposal.htm or by calling 1-800-NO-DUMPS.School officials should follow the setprotocol for reporting and cleaning spillsand call the Education Cabinet with anyquestions.

Quinn Kelley, Tetra Tech EM Inc. (Duluth, Ga.), cleans up aftera mercury spill incident at Marshall County High School inMarch. Photo provided by Tetra Tech EM Inc.

Land, Air & Water 9

Kentuckians throughout the Commonwealth joined othersfrom around the globe in celebrating the 35th anniversaryof Earth Day in April. Spearheaded by the Environmen-

tal and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), a statewide Earth Daycampaign reminded citizens of their personal responsibility toprotect the environment and created awareness about the positiveimpact recycling has on the environment and the economy.

“Earth Day is about everyone,” stated EPPC SecretaryLaJuana S. Wilcher. “We all have an individual impact on theenvironment and a personal responsibility to protect it.”

Below are highlights from Earth Week:

Earth Day every dayEarth Day kickoff

Governor Ernie Fletcher kicked off Earth Week by signingthe Earth Day proclamation and announcing many state govern-ment recycling initiatives. The governor spoke about the role ofthe state office paper recycling program in reducing stategovernment’s landfill costs while promoting a healthy environ-ment. He also encouraged all Kentuckians to “show unbridledspirit and take personal responsibility for our environment byrecycling more this year.”Dumpster dives

EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher, Education CabinetSecretary Virginia Fox and Department of Education Commis-sioner Gene Wilhoit visited schools to teach students about solidwaste issues. Wilcher and her colleagues participated in “dump-ster dives” where garbage is pulled from dumpsters and sorted todetermine what could have been recycled. “You can’t makesomething better if you don’t know there’s a problem, so school isthe perfect place to learn about how to protect our environmentfor ourselves and for the generations who will follow us,” saidSecretary Fox.

The group visited schools in Somerset, Bowling Green andBreathitt County.

By Kate ShanksOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky tourThe EPPC joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky in

promoting hybrid technology and recycling. Four Toyota Priuseswere added to the state fleet to reduce fuel consumption andemissions (see Hybrid vehicles added to cabinet fleet on Page 7).Secretary Wilcher, Finance and Administration Cabinet SecretaryRobbie Rudolph and Transportation Cabinet Acting Secretary BillNighbert toured the plant and commended Toyota on its recyclingefforts.

“Toyota is striving to be the cleanest automaker in the world.Certainly that applies to our hybrid vehicles, like the Prius, butalso to a number of environmental initiatives at our manufacturingplants,” said Kevin Butt, general manager of environmentalaffairs for Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America.Signode Plastic Recycling Alliance tour

Secretary Wilcher and cabinet representatives toured theFlorence manufacturing facility where 35,000 tons of PET(polyethylene teraphthalate) are purchased and recycled each yearto manufacture plastic strapping for packaging. The facilityemploys about 47 people in recycling and 70 in manufacturing,demonstrating that recycling is good for the environment and theeconomy.Sisters of Charity of Nazareth ceremony

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, one of the largestpurchasers of EnviroWatts in the state, was recognized as faithfulstewards of the environment during a ceremony marking itspurchase of renewable energy.

EnviroWatts are units of energy generated from methane gasfound in landfills. The religious order purchased EnviroWatts forits campus in Nazareth, near Bardstown.

TOP: Students at Somerset High School sort through garbage toidentify items that should be recycled. Photo by Mark YorkLEFT: Kevin Butt, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, andEPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher tour the Toyota plant inGeorgetown during Earth Week. Creative Services photo

Land, Air & Water10

Ozone season is here again. Ozone isa gas composed of three atoms of oxygen.It occurs both in the Earth’s upperatmosphere and at ground level. Ozonecan be good or bad, depending on where itis found. “Good” ozone is found in theupper atmosphere, where it forms aprotective layer that shields us from thesun’s ultraviolet rays. Ground-level, or“bad” ozone is formed during the hotsummer months by a chemical reactionbetween volatile organic compounds(VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx),heat and strong sunlight. Ground-levelozone, a colorless gas, is a major compo-nent of smog. That’s why Kentucky’sozone monitoring season begins onMarch 1 and ends Oct. 31 each year.

Ground-level ozone can present aserious air quality problem for healthypeople, and can cause severe problems forpeople with respiratory or pulmonaryillnesses, the very young and the elderly.Even at relatively low levels, ozone maycause inflammation and irritation of therespiratory tract, particularly duringphysical activity. The resulting symptomscan include breathing difficulty, coughingand throat irritation. Breathing ozone canaffect lung function and worsen asthmaattacks. Medical studies have shown thatozone damages lung tissue and completerecovery may take several days afterexposure has ended.

Overall ozone levels have declined inall areas of Kentucky, allowing the entirestate to be designated as meeting the oldEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)1-hour ozone standard. However, researchhas shown that even lower levels of ozoneover longer periods can be more harmfulthan those “peaks” regulated under the oldstandard. Designations for the 8-hourozone standard were finalized last yearafter undergoing many legal challenges.

The old ozone standard was a 1-hourstandard set at 0.12 PPM (parts permillion). A monitor could record up tothree “exceedances” of this standard inthree years and still remain in compliance.

If a fourth exceedance was monitored, thearea was considered in violation. The newstandard is more stringent. It is an 8-hourstandard, set at 0.08 PPM.

Hourly monitoring data values areaveraged in 8-hour blocks over a 24-hourperiod. During ozone season, the Divisionfor Air Quality will accumulate approxi-mately 3,600 8-hour average values forevery monitor in the network. Thedivision calculates the three-year averagebased on the fourth highest 8-hour values

from each monitor each year. The area ismeeting the standard if the three-yearaverage is 0.084 PPM or less. If theaverage is 0.085 PPM or greater, the areais considered in violation.

Based on ozone monitoring datacollected during 2001-2003, several areasof the state violated the 8-hour ozonestandard—the Louisville area, whichincludes Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldhamcounties; northern Kentucky includingBoone, Campbell and Kenton counties;Christian County and Boyd County (seecenter map). However, there weresubstantially fewer areas than in previousmonitoring periods. In addition, based onthe 2002-2004 monitoring period, thedivision has asked EPA to redesignateChristian County as meeting the 8-hourozone standard.

Last year John Lyons, director of theDivision for Air Quality, and members ofthe division’s Program Planning andAdministration Branch toured the stateattending more than 20 meetings with localgovernment and business leaders to advisethem of the potential impacts of the morestringent 8-hour ozone standard.

“I was very pleased with the receptionfrom the local communities,” stated Lyons.“Although not happy to hear that theircommunities may have unhealthy airquality, everyone wanted to know what theimpacts would be and what actions they

Ozone season is in full swingBy Elizabeth Robb and Lona BrewerDivision for Air Quality

• Conserve energy—at home, atwork, everywhere.• Limit engine idling.• Follow gasoline-refueling instruc-tions for efficient vapor recovery.Always refuel after dusk. Be carefulnot to spill fuel, and tighten your gascap securely.• Keep car, boat and other enginestuned up according to manufacturerspecifications. Be sure tires areproperly inflated.• Carpool, use public transportation,bike or walk whenever possible.• Defer use of gasoline-poweredlawn and garden equipment.• Use environmentally safe paintsand cleaning products. Someproducts that you use at your home oroffice are made with smog-formingchemicals that can evaporate. Followmanufacturer recommendations foruse, and properly seal cleaners, paintsand other chemicals to preventevaporation.

could take on a local level to help improvetheir situation.”

While the state is awaiting guidancefrom EPA for area plans to minimizeozone pollution, local officials cancontinue to encourage personal responsi-bility among residents to reduce emissionsof VOCs and NOx.

Automobiles, trucks, buses, gasolinestations, some industries, print shops,consumer products (such as paints andcleaners), lawn and garden equipment,construction equipment and locomotivesare sources of VOCs. NOx emissions aretypically large industry and combustionsources, including electric utilities.

The everyday actions you take thissummer should involve minimizing theuse of fossil fuels and electricity.

Actions you can taketo help reduce smog

Land, Air & Water 11

water incidents in the state,” said Petersen. “I am so pleased that the task force memberscould reach a consensus on the recommendations and best management practices in thereport.”

Coal companies in Kentucky are required to operate under a BMP plan written bythe individual company. These plans are produced during inspections. However, there isno legislative requirement for coal operators to incorporate the BMPs included in theBlack Water Task Force report into their existing BMP plans.

The report includes the following recommendations:• Buried slurry pipelines shall be clearly marked on the surface with warning signs.• Pipelines shall be inspected for wear annually using ultrasonic methods.• Once per month, the entire pipeline or pipeline route where the pipe is buried

shall be visually inspected for leaks, ground movement, pipe gouges or other distress.• The maintenance of sediment ponds shall be supervised by company manage-

ment to prevent spills.• Clean out operations for sediment ponds should not be conducted during

significant rainfall events.• Alternatives to traditional coal waste disposal methods should be considered

before or at the time of permitting. Underground injection of coal slurry and dry coalprocessing technology are two potential alternatives.

• In locating or expanding a coal waste impoundment, the possibility of impound-ment pool failure into underground mine works should be thoroughly assessed.

• Through careful analysis, mine operators shall, on their coal waste disposalpermits, clearly identify the type and location of underground workings.

A copy of the report can be found at http://www.environment.ky.gov/homepage_repository/blackwaterreport.htm

Often, private citizens bring black water spills to the EPPC’s attention. If yoususpect a black water spill has occurred near you, call the Spill Reporting Hot Lineat (800) 928-2380. The hot line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Recommendations released to minimize blackwater spills in KentuckyContinued from Page 1

Task Force members:· EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher· Don Bowles, Charolais Coal· Bill Caylor, Kentucky Coal Association· Tom FitzGerald, Kentucky Resources Council· Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute;

Environmental Quality Commission· Judy Petersen, Kentucky Waterways Alliance· Bruce Short, Argus Energy

Task Force advisors:· David Lamb, Associated Engineers Inc.· Dan Geiger, Lexington Coal Co. LLC· Susan Bush, Department for Natural Resources· Lloyd Cress, Department for Environmental Protection

Contributing writers:· David Morgan, Division of Water· Larry Taylor, Department for Environmental Protection· Aaron Keatley, Division of Compliance Assistance· Tom VanArsdall, Division of Water· Allen Luttrell, Department for Natural Resources

What is “e-scrap”?

• Avoid unnecessary purchases:√ Don’t buy electronic “gadgets.”√ Repair instead of replace.√ Consider leasing equipment.

• Buy “green:”√ Buy electronics made with

recycled materials and fewer toxicconstituents.

√ Purchase durable goods with highreliability ratings and low repair costs.

√ Buy products designed for easyupgrades.

√ Participate in dealer/manufacturer“take back” programs.

√ Know your labels. Look for theENERGY STAR logo and for certification(such as Swedish TCO or Blue Angel) thatindicates the product is environmentallypreferable.

For more information, including a listof recyclers, go to the Kentucky RecyclesWeb page at www.waste.ky.gov or callthe Division of Waste Management at(502) 564-6716.

Continued from Page 2

E-scrap workshops:

The Division of WasteManagement’s Kentucky Recyclingand Marketing Assistance program isoffering four e-scrap workshops onrecycling and managing electronics.

Oct. 26—Lake Barkley State ResortPark (SRP)Nov. 9—Barren River SRPFeb. 22, 2006—General Butler SRPMarch 22, 2006—Natural Bridge SRP

The sessions are open to individu-als, school systems, local governments,hospitals and other high-volumegenerators of e-scrap. The workshopsare free, but registration is required.

For more information or toregister, call Tom Heil or Dara Carlisleat (502) 564-6716 or e-mailThomas.Heil@ky.gov orDara.Carlisle@ky.gov.

Land, Air & Water12

different parameters in monitoring – mightbe understandably confused, she said. Thereports could indicate a shared river “isclean right up to the state line, and then it’spolluted,” she said.

Governor Fletcher said the partnership“is an example of how we can reach acrossour borders to work to improve theenvironment for the benefit of the citizensof both of our states.”

Governor Bredesen noted that his2005 State of the State Address to theTennessee Legislature included a call for“an increased level of collaboration withother organizations to preserve specialplaces in Tennessee for future genera-tions.” The pilot project, Bredesen said, isone such initiative.

The Cumberland River flows for 697miles from Letcher County, its extremeheadwaters, to Livingston County, nearSmithland, where it empties into the Ohio.The main stem crosses into Tennessee nearTompkinsville, then back into Kentucky inthe form of Lake Barkley in westernKentucky. Along the way, it drains 18,000square miles in Kentucky and Tennessee—an area that is home to nearly 2 millionpeople.

The Cumberland is unique in Ken-tucky because it flows south, then changescourse and flows north. Stretches of theriver, including part of its Big South Fork,have been designated by the federalgovernment as wild river areas.

Clarks River, a 62-mile-long tributaryof the Tennessee River, cuts through theJackson Purchase area of western Ken-tucky. East Fork, an object of the newpartnership, flows north through Callowayand Marshall counties. It merges with theWest Fork in McCracken County andflows into the Tennessee.

A watersheddevelopment

For additional information, visit theKentucky Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet Web site atwww.environment.ky.gov; the TennesseeDepartment of Environment and Conserva-tion Web site www.tdec.gov; and theCumberland River Compact Web site atwww.cumberlandrivercompact.org

Continued from Page 5

Behind every drink of water and every toilet flush there is an intensive system tocertify the people who operate drinking water and wastewater treatment plants across thestate. These operators must undergo a certification program, and these programs areoverseen by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet’s Division of ComplianceAssistance.

It involves two advisory boards, a group of professional trainers and the operatorsthemselves. Both boards represent the regulated community and advise the certificationstaff. They hold meetings to discuss program issues, along with monthly meetings inwhich approval of training, approval of candidates for testing and a review of examquestions takes place. Administrative people are also included to certify the level of skilleach participant has achieved. Currently there are 4,500 active wastewater and drinkingwater licenses, requiring renewal every two years.

To operate a wastewater treatment plant, four levels of training are required basedon the design capacity of the system. Drinking water system operators are trained basedon the type of filtration and design capacity. All operators must be thoroughly instructedbefore licenses are approved.

The operator training schedule for fiscal year 2006 was released and can be viewedon the Division of Compliance Assistance Web site at http://www.dca.ky.gov/certprogram/trainingtestingschedule/ or additional information may be obtained bycalling 800-926-8111 or (502) 564-0323.

Certification programs ensurequalified and skilled operatorsBy Rose Marie WilmothDivision of Compliance Assistance

A recent workshop taught school administrators, engineers and architects how tobuild better, healthier and more energy-efficient buildings. High-performance schools arenot only energy efficient but healthier and more comfortable. Workshop participantslearned that there is a direct link between high-performance schools and improvedacademic performance.

Workshop presenters included Robert Kobert, president of Sustainaissance Interna-tional Inc., an architectural firm specializing in sustainable design and development;Jason Kilwinski, a leading environmentally responsible design consultant; and WilliamFranzen, executive director of operations for a school district that saves more than$300,000 yearly from energy projects.

The speakers discussed how high-performance facilities can improve student healthand productivity, attract quality teachers and significantly reduce energy use and operat-ing costs. They also explained sustainability through their own experiences and presentedhigh-performance concepts that can improve the environment in school buildings.

The workshop was sponsored by the Office of Energy Policy and supported thegoals outlined in Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy. Thestrategy, which was released in February 2005, encourages schools to promote and givepreference to energy-efficient products and practices, as well as to use high-performanceand energy-efficient design for new construction.

For information about high-performance schools workshops, contact Greg Guessat gregory.guess@ky.gov, by phone (800) 282-0868 or visit www.energy.ky.gov.

Workshop promoteshigh-performance schoolsBy Lola LyleOffice of Energy Policy

Land, Air & Water 13

Kentucky’s floodplain maps areabout to become, like Millie,“thoroughly modern.”

Floodplain maps, published by theFederal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA), are essential parts ofthe information FEMA produces toidentify flood-prone areas. Three-fourthsof FEMA’s flood maps are more than 10years old, and some exceed 20 years.Kentucky’s maps average 15 years.

Each state is prioritizing communi-ties to be mapped. Kentucky is ap-proaching this task on a watershed basis,beginning at the top of a watershed andworking toward the lower reaches, thusfacilitating hydrologic and hydraulicmodeling of the watershed. Kentucky’sgoal is also to integrate the products ofmap modernization into existing statecapabilities such as GIS, existing terrainmodels and aerial photography.

Natural and man-made changes inwatersheds alter the level of flood risk.Kentucky has 89,431 miles of rivers andstreams, which have overflowed their

banks on numerous occasions causingmillions of dollars in losses from flooddamage almost every year.

Updating maps can help reducedamage from flooding by identifyingareas for protection from development.

Homeowners must buy separateflood insurance policies because regularhomeowner policies do not includeflood protection. The community inwhich the property is located mustbelong to the National Flood InsuranceProgram (NFIP) before flood insuranceis available. FEMA oversees the NFIP,which uses floodplain maps to adminis-ter the program.

The Division of Water is partneringwith federal, state, regional and localagencies through a program developedby FEMA called Cooperating TechnicalPartners (CTPs) to help carry out themap modernization initiative.

The CTP program helps to increaselocal involvement and ownership of themapping effort, providing the opportu-nity to create flood maps that are

especially suited to a particular commu-nity. Thus, for specific conditions in acommunity, it will be possible to deviseunique approaches to flood hazardidentification.

In the creation of a CTP, thepartnering agency executes a partnershipagreement with FEMA that emphasizesthe NFIP’s three general components:flood insurance, floodplain managementand floodplain mapping.

Each CTP develops a mappingactivity statement that specifies the scopeand schedule for the parts of FEMA’smapping process the community willperform. These partnerships make itpossible to pool resources and extendfunds. There are presently five CTPs inKentucky, including the Division of Waterat the state level.

Mapping activities are scheduled tocontinue from federal fiscal year 2004 to2008. Generally, the Digital FloodInsurance Rate Maps are publishedapproximately two years after mappingactivities begin.

Flood maps are being modernized

By Maleva ChamberlainDivision of Water

The Kentucky map modernization process will continue through fiscal year 2008. Map provided by the Division of Water

Land, Air & Water14

To help the Department forEnvironmental Protectionmeet its mission of protecting

public health and the environment,groundwater hydrologists, geologistsand other personnel with the Divisionof Water’s Groundwater Branchrecently completed nonpoint sourcepollution assessment studies ofgroundwater in two areas of the state.

The first study, led by Joe Ray,involved monitoring and mapping thespring basins for 12 karst springs in theMississippian Plateau (Pennyroyal) ofwestern Kentucky. Karst terrain, whichextends over more than half of the state, iswell known to Kentuckians who arefamiliar with its sinkholes, sinkingstreams, abundant springs and caverns,most notably Mammoth Cave. The cavernsgenerally contain cave streams that feedsurface springs.

When groundwater discharges tosprings, especially large karst springs, thequality and quantity of the spring waterhas a direct impact on the water qualityand flow of the receiving stream. There-fore, this study had three purposes—todetermine the volume of water contributedby the springs in base-flow conditions(unit base flow); to map the groundwaterbasins by hydrological mapping tech-niques, including dye tracing; and to assessnonpoint source pollution impacts bymonitoring the water quality of thesesprings.

Twelve karst spring basins weremapped by measuring unit base flow,which is determined by dividing a spring’sbase-flow discharge by its basin area. Unitbase flow is useful because the approxi-mate square mileage of a basin can becalculated by multiplying the unit baseflow by a reference value for that region.Dye-trace studies were conducted byinjecting nontoxic, fluorescent dyes intosinkholes and mapping where the dyes

emerged at springs. This information isused to determine the drainage areacontributing to the spring. It is especiallyuseful when emergency personnel respondto spills in karst areas.

Water quality samples were collectedat the 12 springs for two years. Sampleswere analyzed for a wide variety ofparameters, including herbicides andnutrients. The spring basins were rankedaccording to the nonpoint source pollutionimpacts on spring water quality, and landuse in the basin was also summarized.Statistical analysis of water quality versusland use in this basin helped to determinethe relative susceptibility of karst springsto various nonpoint source pollutants by

Groundwater Branch completesspring, well studiesBy Jim WebbDivision of Water

Continued on Page 15

TOP: Sampling at Burton’s Hole Spring,Breckinridge County.CENTER: Improper storage of chemicalsand gasoline near a domestic water well inLetcher County. Division of Water photos

determining the percentages of variousland uses in the karst basin. Those basinsmost impacted by nonpoint sourcepollutants were prioritized for focusingfuture resources, such as technicalassistance, education outreach and bestmanagement practices.

Karst basin boundaries mapped forthis project will be included in updatedversions of the karst groundwater basinmaps published by the Kentucky Geologi-cal Survey (KGS). Water quality data areforwarded to the Groundwater DataRepository maintained by the KGS. Thesemaps and data are available online atwww.uky.edu/KGS/

The second study, led by Phil O’Dell,assessed private water wells in an area ofLetcher County not scheduled for futureexpansion of water lines. In this area,citizens rely on groundwater, primarilyfrom private wells, to supply their domes-tic needs. Groundwater in this area is atrisk from nonpoint source pollution,primarily from substandard domestic wastedisposal.

Eighty-seven private water supplieswere inspected and sampled for nonpointsource water quality parameters, includingnitrates and bacteria. Other naturallyoccurring constituents that affect wells,such as iron, were also investigated. Well

Land, Air & Water 15

owners were counseled on severalpertinent issues, including nonpoint sourcepollution causes, effects and remediation;protecting their private supply through theuse of best management practices, such asnot storing household chemicals, oil andgasoline near the well; proper wellmaintenance and disinfection; andappropriate water treatment for theirsource, if necessary.

Although no pervasive nonpointsource pollution of groundwater was foundin this study, several wells and waterquality treatment systems were upgradedin response to advice from Division ofWater personnel. The citizens whovoluntarily chose to participate appreci-ated the information and assistance thatwas tailored to their individual needs.

These studies were funded by Section319 (h) of the Clean Water Act. Finalreports for these projects will be availableonline at www.water.ky.gov.

For information, contact Joe.Ray@ky.gov or Phillip.ODell@ky.gov.

Groundwater Branch completesspring, well studiesContinued from Page 14

For up-to-date statewide and regionalwatershed information and an excellentnetworking opportunity, be sure to attendthe 2005 Kentucky Watershed Roundtable.It’s set for Nov. 2-4 at the Holiday InnUniversity Plaza in Bowling Green.

This year the Kentucky WatershedRoundtable will be jointly hosted bySoutheast Watershed Forum. This will bethe eighth annual Southeast WatershedRoundtable and the first held in Kentucky.The Southeast Watershed Forum includesnine southeastern states, and participantswill have a chance to hear speakers andmeet fellow participants from across theSoutheast.

The roundtable is the perfect venue tofacilitate a dialogue among many stake-holder groups. Ultimately this type of event

Kentucky Watershed Roundtable set for NovemberBy Maleva ChamberlainDivision of Water

builds trust and forges partnerships thatenhance watershed initiatives. It is anexcellent opportunity for citizens andcitizen groups, federal, state and localgovernment agencies and officials,business and industry representatives to sitdown together and discuss problems andpotential solutions to watershed issues.

More than 200 participants fromacross Kentucky attended last year’sroundtable. Evaluations in each of the pasttwo years have pointed to the need for theevent to be held annually. One roundtableparticipant stated, “I attained a betterunderstanding of what is happeningthroughout the state. I gained knowledgeof the important issues in differentwatersheds and how those issues may beaddressed.”

Other participants commented on thenetworking opportunities, stating, “Theroundtable program provides exposure toother agencies, who are in charge ofcertain programs at local and state levels.”And, “The Watershed Roundtable allowsme to network with stakeholders in myarea of concern. This is very valuable forfuture issue resolution.”

Look for more information in the fallissue of Land, Air & Water or on KentuckyWaterways Alliance’s Web site atwww.KWAlliance.org. All 2003 and2004 roundtable attendees will receive2005 conference information.

The 2004 Watershed Roundtable finalreport and the Call for Abstracts for the2005 Roundtable are also available onthe Web site.

Two more Priuses are slated to be added this summer to the Division for AirQuality fleet. Director John Lyons stated, “The Division for Air Quality has beentrying for about three years to purchase hybrid technology because of its potential toreduce air pollution through increasing fuel efficiency and minimizing idling. Thanksto the addition of hybrids to the list vehicles available for purchase by agencies likeours, we have finally been able to procure this technology. This will allow us to leadthe state by example in ways that the public can follow to reduce air pollutionstatewide.”

In addition to providing transportation for agency staff, the Division for AirQuality will use the hybrids as a teaching tool for schools and the general public,taking them to public and educational events to give people the opportunity to see –and hear – how they work. If you would like to have a hybrid come to your schoolor event, call the Clean Air for Kentucky hotline at (800) 928-0047.

Hybrid vehicles added to cabinet fleetContinued from Page 7

The Division of Waste Management has a new Kentucky Recycles Web page onits division’s Web site at www.waste.ky.gov

The information is divided into three categories:Where, What and How to Recycle—a county-by-county listing of recyclers,

lists of specialized recyclers and links to other online sources like Earth 911.Government Resources—information about division programs and a list of

county solid waste coordinators in Kentucky.Educational Resources—links to information and fun stuff like using recycled

materials to create art.

Recycling in Kentucky just got a little easier

Land, Air & Water16

When Georgetown city engineerBrad Frazier looks out over thelandscape, he sees the impervi-

ous surfaces of the city’s parking lots,streets, sidewalks and rooftops that causestormwater to carry pollutants to streams.Hard surfaces also raise temperatures,increase the potential for flooding andprevent rainwater from recharginggroundwater.

What Frazier envisions instead ispavement that is porous and capable ofallowing water to filter through to theground. He sees trained design engineers,including architects, civil engineers andlandscape architects, using low-impactdevelopment strategies to slow down,treat, filter and slowly release stormwater.These strategies would also allow rainwa-ter to enter the earth and replenishgroundwater.

Georgetown will be able to movetoward this vision through a $456,250grant that will help to provide educationon reducing nonpoint source (NPS)pollution in urban areas. The project willinclude demonstrations of low-impactdevelopment strategies and will promotethe Leadership in Energy Efficient Designprogram. These programs teach the use ofbest management practices (BMP) thatallow infiltration, filtering, storage,evaporation and detention of excessrainfall.

The funds are from Section 319(h) ofthe Clean Water Act. Grants are adminis-tered by the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency and, in Kentucky, by theDivision of Water. The grants are intendedto help correct or prevent nonpoint sourcepollution.

Jon Walker of the U.S. Forest Servicesees a landscape with a different problem.Off-road vehicle use has degraded 8,000acres of the Daniel Boone National Forestand adjacent private land. Approximately1,600 acres have been heavily impacted,and stormwater that runs off the areacarries heavy loads of sediment.

The Cromer Ridge WatershedRestoration Project will be funded by$972,000 in 319(h) funds. The projectwill revegetate the area to help protect theRockcastle River, a federal wild and scenicriver that is home to several threatened andendangered species, and the Woods CreekReservoir, a source water protection area

that provides drinking water for London.The project will also correct many illegaltravelways, install water bars to redirectrunoff, educate off-road vehicle users andremove large garbage dumps on the site.

Protection of an outstanding stateresource water is the goal of the BuckCreek Watershed Riparian RestorationProject near Somerset. Buck Creek ishome to 30 species of mussels, four ofwhich are federally endangered, and 77fish species. It also is visited by theendangered gray bat. However, the musselpopulations are declining because ofactivities such as row cropping andallowing cattle access to streams, as wellas gravel mining and channel modifica-tions at stream crossings. Section 319(h)grant funds of $550,156 will be used alongwith Environmental Quality IncentiveProgram funds from the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture’s Natural ResourcesConservation Service to further work thathas been started in this watershed. Agri-cultural BMPs will focus on buffers

between the stream and cropped acreage,stream bank protection, alternativewatering sources for livestock, animalwaste handling and forestry practices. TheKentucky Division of Conservation, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership forWildlife Program and the UpperCumberland Watershed Watch Programare partners in this effort.

These three projects are among manyactivities supported by NPS grants.Because nonpoint source pollution iscaused by actions we take on the land, it isimportant for us to make wise choices inorder to protect the state’s waterresources.

Grants helpimprove state’swater qualityBy Rosetta FacklerDivision of Water

Extensive erosion on Cromer Ridge is due to illegal off-road vehicle use. Division of Water photo

For more information about the:• Nonpoint Source Program inKentucky: http://www.water.ky.gov/sw/nps/• NPS grants: http://www.water.ky.gov/publicassistance/funding/nps/• Georgetown project: contact BradFrazier at cog_brad_frazier@hotmail.com.• Effects of illegal off-road vehicleuse or to assist in improving andprotecting the wild and scenicRockcastle River: contact JonWalker at Jwalker05@ fs.fed.us.• Buck Creek project: contact MikeStrunk at michael.strunk@ky.usda.gov.

Land, Air & Water 17

Across the AmericasKentucky’s ecological link to Latin AmericaBy Greg Abernathy, Ronald Cicerello, Marc Evans and Deborah WhiteKentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

Although Kentucky is separatedfrom Latin America by a distanceof nearly one thousand miles to

several thousand miles, there are numerousconnections between these two geogra-phies. Since the early 1990s there has beena continual rise in the number of Latinosliving and working in Kentucky, an influxthat has resulted in a changing culturallandscape. These two geographies areconnected by much more than people,however. The human migration betweenthese areas is a more recent phenomenon,whereas ecological connections haveexisted for tens of thousands of years.

Both Kentucky and Latin Americahave rich and unique biodiversity (thevariety of life and its interactions).Kentucky is located in one of the mostecologically diverse regions in the UnitedStates. The region has high numbers offreshwater and terrestrial species, is hometo numerous endemic species (plants andanimals that only occur naturally in aspecific and limited area) and contains awide variety of natural communities(habitats) from mountains to broadwetlands plains. Latin America’s ecologi-cal uniqueness is unparalleled around theworld. The biologically rich upland andlowland rainforests, high elevationmountain and desert ecosystems, diversesubtropical conifer forests, numerousendemic species and high plant and animalspecies richness make Latin Americaglobally significant. These regions sharemore than individual ecological unique-ness; they are connected by speciesmigration patterns, shared species andsimilar habitats in an interconnectedtranscontinental landscape that is criticalto the survival of numerous species.

A number of plant and animal speciesare found in both Kentucky and LatinAmerica. A few plants that are endangeredin Kentucky are common in tropical LatinAmerica; most of these are tropical aquaticspecies like Blue Mud-plantain andBurhead. These Kentucky populations are

at the northern edge of their distributionand trying to adapt to cooler conditionsthat are less ideal than in their southernhabitats. The Mississippi River serves as anorthern conduit for the distribution ofplants from the tropics. Water birds play arole in expanding plant species ranges;they are well known for moving plantsfrom swamp to swamp.

Several kinds of fishes and musselsalso are found both in Kentucky and LatinAmerica. The Alligator Gar, StripedMullet and Giant Floater are a few of theaquatic animals known from both regions.Alligator Gar live in pools and backwatersof large rivers, swamps and lakes fromCosta Rica north to the Ohio River valleyand Kentucky; diners in Mexico may knowthis species as the popular dish RicoCatán. Normally found in coastal areasnearly worldwide, the Striped Mulletswims up the Mississippi River to Ken-tucky during droughts. The Giant Floateris a freshwater mussel found in swamps,ponds and large rivers from the northernUnited States south into Mexico.

Although most of Latin America istropical to sub-tropical, there are areas inthe highlands and mountains that have aclimate similar to Kentucky. In some oftheses areas, specifically the highlands ofMexico and Guatemala, there are forestsvery similar to those of eastern Kentucky.These forests are Temperate DeciduousMesophytic Forest, a type of forestconsidered to be the most biologicallydiverse temperate forest in the world.Although thousands of miles apart, thesetemperate forests share a number of plantspecies including trees such as White Pine,Black Cherry, Sweetgum, FloweringDogwood and Redbud.

One of the most significant and directconnections between Kentucky and LatinAmerica is the yearly migration ofbutterflies and birds between the tworegions. The most significant butterflymigration is that of the Monarch. Monarchbutterflies breed in North America and

each year millions of them migrate over athousand miles to overwinter primarily inone small region of southern Mexico. Birdmigration between these two regions isrepresented by Neotropical migrants, birdsthat breed in North America and spend thenonbreeding season in Mexico, theCaribbean and Central and South America.Each year Neotropical migrants such asCerulean Warblers, Indigo Buntings,Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles andWood Thrushes come to Kentucky to nestand breed, and then return to LatinAmerican countries for the nonbreedingseason. Millions of Neotropical migrantsmake the yearly journey traveling thou-sands of miles during the flight; somespecies travel as far south as the Andes.These birds typically migrate as individu-als and fly during the night.

All species depend on good qualitynatural habitat where they live and alongtheir migratory paths. Species habitat andmigration corridors are under increasingpressure from human population growththroughout the transcontinental landscapebetween Kentucky and Latin America.Habitat fragmentation and degradation areoccurring at unprecedented rates. Landconversion (forest clearing, wetlanddraining, etc.), resource extraction(logging, surface mining, etc.), land usepractices (agricultural applications offertilizers and pesticides, dams, etc.) andurbanization (urban sprawl, road building,power line corridors, etc.) have dramati-cally altered the landscape and imperiled

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Land, Air & Water18

Kentucky’s native freshwater fish and mussel faunas are among the richest in NorthAmerica, the center of worldwide freshwater mussel and temperate freshwater fishbiodiversity. Mussels and fishes are among the most imperiled groups nationally; theirdistribution in Kentucky is well documented. During the last century, habitat destructionand degradation (e.g., dams, pollution) caused the extirpation or extinction of 21 percentand 4 percent of Kentucky’s mussels and fishes, respectively. Of the existing groups, 41percent of mussels and 25 percent of fishes are imperiled because of significant declinesin diversity, numbers and distribution. Although there are efforts to conserve theseimperiled aquatic groups, priority areas for conservation have not been assessed. Priorityareas must be identified so limited conservation funds can be expended wisely.

The objective of this analysis was to identify hot spots (watersheds with the highestspecies richness) and priority watersheds for conservation of existing imperiled freshwa-ter mussels and fishes in Kentucky. Using Geographic Information Systems, each of 616Kentucky watersheds was scored for post-1984 records of imperiled mussels and fishesin the Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission Natural Heritage Program database.Only 31 percent of the 616 watersheds in Kentucky had at least one imperiled group andonly 1.9 percent were determined to be hot spot watersheds (a watershed that supportseight or more imperiled groups). Using a rarity-weighted richness index (RWRI) 53watersheds were identified as priority watersheds, an area totaling ca. 1,490,896 hectaresor 14 percent of Kentucky. This preliminary assessment focused on imperiled musselsand fishes. A future assessment will use data for all native mussels and fishes to deter-mine priorities for biodiversity conservation of these groups.

Visit www.naturepreserves.ky.gov/inforesources/prwshds.htm to read the fullreport.

‘Hot spots’ and priority watershedsidentified for imperiled fishesand musselsBy Ronald Cicerello and Greg AbernathyKentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

Maps by KSNPC Staff

LEFT: Migration routes between Kentuckyand Latin America. Map by the Kentucky StateNature Preserves Commission. Satellite Data ©NASA - Visible Earth 2004

countless species. Fragmented anddegraded landscapes result in limitedhabitat for native species. As the naturallandscape is degraded it begins to lack theability to perform ecological processes,tends to increase the spread of invasivespecies (species that occur outside theirnatural range) and results in diminishedecosystem services (drinking water, cleanair, medicinal extracts, etc.).

There are a number of conservation-based organizations working across theAmericas to protect irreplaceable endan-gered plants, animals and ecosystemsthroughout the region. One of the largestnetworks is the international naturalheritage network headed by NatureServe.This network includes Natural HeritagePrograms and Conservation Data Centersacross Canada, the United States and LatinAmerica, all contributing data to the sameconservation database. The NatureConservancy and the World Wildlife Fundare two of the larger international not-for-profit organizations spearheading landconservation, research and coordination ofresources for conservation activities acrossthe Americas. Additionally, organizationssuch as Pronatura (Mexico), Defensores dela Naturaleza (Guatemala) and Pro-Naturaleza (Peru) make significantregional contributions. Although theseorganizations play a significant role,conservation efforts must involve localindividuals, communities and organiza-tions to conserve biological and ecologicalriches shared by all throughout the region.

Public awareness, understanding andsupport of our shared natural heritage isessential to maintaining the richbiodiversity of this interconnectedtranscontinental landscape. To learn moreabout rare species and natural communi-ties, conservation efforts and the NaturalHeritage Network, and to view additionalphotos and maps, visitwww.naturepreserves.ky.gov/inforesources/LAconnection.htm

This article was published in a threepart series in La Voz, a regional bilingualSpanish-English newspaper.

Land, Air & Water 19

The Kentucky Environmental QualityCommission joined with the KentuckyLeague of Cities and the KentuckyAssociation of Counties to celebrate the35th anniversary of Earth Day and recog-nize 12 community initiatives that supportjob growth, environmental stewardshipand social equity — the three pillars ofsustainable communities.

“Kentucky communities are comingto understand that the environment can nolonger be separate from the economy,”stated EQC Chair Lindell Ormsbee. “Oureconomic health is directly linked to thehealth of the environment. Each ismutually reinforcing and interdependentto our well-being and quality of life.”

The 12 sustainable communityinitiatives honored were:• Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails,Eastern Kentucky University

By Rose Marie WilmothDivision of Compliance Assistance

Nominations for air quality stewardship awards due Aug. 19

Do you know an owner of a small business thathas gone the extra mile to minimize its impact onthe state’s air quality? If so, you have anopportunity to nominate this person for a uniqueaward. Nominations for the 2005 Small BusinessAir Quality Stewardship Awards are beingaccepted by the Air Quality Small BusinessCompliance Advisory Panel through Aug. 19.

The awards recognize small businesses thathave shown a commitment to reducing their impact on air quality.The annual awards acknowledge outstanding performance inpollution prevention, reducing emissions or community air qualityleadership. This is the eighth year that the panel has offered theawards.

AwardsEarth Day ceremonyhonors 12 communityinitiativesBy Leslie ColeEnvironmental Quality Commission

• Carnation/Nestle/Silgan RedevelopmentProject, City ofMaysville• The PrestonProject, Bath County• The Partnershipfor a Green City,University ofLouisville, JeffersonCounty Public Schools, MetroGovernment• Indoor Clean Air Ordinance,Lexington-Fayette Urban CountyGovernment• Regional Community Stewardship,Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties• Strodes Creek Watershed Conser-vancy, Clark County• Elkhorn City Adventure—Where

Nature Meets Culture, Pike County• Concerned Citizens of Russellvilleand Logan County and KP Hall• Lower Town Artist RelocationProgram, City of Paducah• Kenton County BrownfieldInitiative• Greenbelt System, Bowling Greenand Warren County GreenwaysCommission

Mayor Teresa Isaac (left) and Health Commissioner Dr. MelindaRowe (right) accept an Earth Day award from Betsy Bennett forLexington’s Indoor Clean Air Ordinance, which bans smoking inpublic places. EQC photo

Individuals, businesses and organizations maynominate themselves or others for these awards. Acommittee of advisory panel members will evaluatethe nominations and select the winners.

The awards will be presented on Oct. 11, 2005.Nomination forms may be requested by writing

Rose Marie Wilmoth, Division of ComplianceAssistance, Department for Environmental Protec-tion, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 or you

may call (800) 926-8111.Forms may be completed online at http://www.dca.ky.gov/

smallbusprogram/stewardshipaward/Nominations are due to the Division of Compliance

Assistance at the above address no later than Aug. 19, 2005.

Land, Air & Water20

Is Kentucky on a path toward a sustainable energyfuture? According to Kateri Callahan, president of theAlliance to Save Energy, the state is advancingimportant initiatives that will promote greater energyefficiency and a more sustainable energy future.

Callahan, featured speaker at the 2005 Earth Dayceremony on April 22 in Frankfort, said energyefficiency is our country’s greatest indigenous energyresource.

Over the past 30 years, studies show that energyefficiency and conservation measures are now displac-ing the need for 40 quadrillion units of energy eachyear. Energy efficiency is contributing more than coal,more than nuclear power and even more than oil tomeet our country’s thirst for energy. Yet it remains aresource that can deliver more—even more quickly,

more cheaply and more cleanly—than any otherenergy supply, given meaningful public policy support. Callahan attributes energyefficiency to federal policies and programs, such as appliance standards, research anddevelopment, and ENERGY STAR, which made major contributions to these savings.Still, more remains to be done to increase our nation’s energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency must play a central role in the nation’s energy future. The UnitedStates holds only 2 percent of known world oil reserves.

Our energy use impacts our planet. The United States produces 25 percent of thecarbon dioxide—by far the largest share of any country. The ability to meet growingenergy needs with domestically produced, environmentally responsible energy is simplyunfeasible, and the gap between domestic supply and demand continues to grow,according to Callahan. As an example, we produce 40 percent less oil today than we didin 1970, and meanwhile our demand for oil has grown by 40 percent. The good news isthat more and more people understand that using less energy doesn’t have to meansacrifice. In fact, it is the cheapest way to lower greenhouse gas and other emissions,and it can save money in energy bills.

Leadership is emanating from the Commonwealth to advance energy efficiency.The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy conducts workshops for the building trade toincrease efficiency and comfort in new home construction and is helping establish ahome-energy rating system in Kentucky to improve and inform consumers of energyefficiency in homes. The office hosts workshops on high-performance school buildingsand sustainable building practices throughout the year (see Workshop promotes high-performance schools on Page 12).

Callahan reviewed Governor Ernie Fletcher’s comprehensive energy plan andapplauded his emphasis on energy efficiency. “I am impressed that the first ninerecommendations all deal with advancing energy efficiency as an effective tool forsaving energy, money and the environment,” she said. “All too often policy-makers andothers treat energy efficiency as an afterthought. It is refreshing and encouraging to seethat Governor Fletcher and other leaders in the state have recognized that energyefficiency must be a cornerstone to building a sustainable energy future.”

AwardsCeremony features energy speakerBy Leslie ColeEnvironmental Quality Commission

Kateri Callahan

Every year, high school students fromaround the Commonwealth test theirenvironmental knowledge by competingfor the title of Kentucky Envirothonchampion. The Envirothon is an interna-tional environmental competition in whichstudents experience hands-on educationand compete to solve environmentalproblems relating to topics such as soils,aquatics, forestry and wildlife. This year,students were also scored on a verbalpresentation based on managing culturallandscapes. The state competition washeld in May in Jabez, Ky.

The Woodford County High Schoolteam took first place and will representKentucky this summer at the CanonEnvirothon North American Program inSpringfield, Mo.

Oldham County High School receivedsecond place, and Todd County CentralHigh School finished third overall.

The competition started out with 39teams from across the state. Congratula-tions to Woodford County High Schoolfor ranking first in environmentalproblem solving.

By Martin BessDivision of Conservation

Kentucky Association of ConservationDistricts and the KACD Auxiliary;Kentucky Department of Agriculture;Kentucky Environmental EducationCouncil; Department of Fish & WildlifeResources; Kentucky State University;Kentucky Farm Bureau; Jackson PurchaseResource Conservation and DevelopmentArea; Laurel County Fiscal Court; Laurel,Wayne, Pulaski, Jackson and Clay countyconservation districts; Bluegrass PRIDEand Natural Resource ConservationService. The Kentucky Division ofForestry, Division of Water, Division ofConservation and USDA Forestry Servicealso assisted.

Envirothon sponsors:

High-school studentscompete duringEnvirothon

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Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet

Clay named EPPC deputy secretaryBy Dana NortonOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

In March, Governor Ernie Fletcherappointed John W. Clay as the deputysecretary of the Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet (EPPC).

Clay, a certified public accountantwith 28 years of experience in financialmanagement, was most recently theexecutive director of the Office of AlcoholBeverage Control in the EPPC’s Depart-ment of Public Protection. Clay spent 17years with Southern Wine & Spirits ofKentucky Inc., formerly Crane Distribut-ing Co., most recently as its director offinance.

He was secretary-treasurer andcontroller of Crane Distributing for 14years, directing all treasury, financial, taxcompliance, accounting and operationalfunctions of the company. He was anaccountant and tax manager in threeaccounting firms prior to joining CraneDistributing.

“John Clay brings awealth of financial andmanagerial experienceto a demanding post inone of the most diversecabinets of our adminis-tration,” GovernorFletcher stated. “I knowhe shares our vision ofan able, efficient stategovernment dedicatedto the best possiblepublic service.”

Clay, a native ofMaysville, has been onthe job for four months and says the bestpart about the position is the challenge ofworking in a cabinet that oversees so manystate agencies.

Clay is a graduate of GeorgetownCollege, where he received a bachelor’sdegree in business administration. He

completed additional accounting coursesat the University of Kentucky. He is amember of the Kentucky State Board ofAccountancy, the American Institute ofCertified Public Accountants and theKentucky Society of CPAs. He enjoyssnow skiing, playing golf and reading.

John Clay, a native of Maysville, has been deputy secretary sinceMarch. Photo by Cindy Schafer