Volume 18 Number 4Fall 2007

Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet

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 phone502-564-5525 to have your name added to

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The Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet does not discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or veteran’s status 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 Office of Communicationsand Public Outreach, 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 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, Mary Jean Eddins,

Allison Fleck, Gwen Holt,Leslie Isaman, Johnna McHugh,

Linda Potter, Elizabeth Robband Eva Smith-Carroll.

State of KentuckyErnie Fletcher, Governor

EditorDesign and Production

Cynthia Schafer

Environmental andPublic Protection Cabinet

Teresa J. Hill, Secretary

Department for EnvironmentalProtection

Cheryl Taylor, Commissioner

Department for Natural ResourcesSusan Carole Bush, Commissioner

Department of Public ProtectionTimothy LeDonne, Commissioner

Department of LaborPhilip Anderson, Commissioner

Visit Land, Air & Water magazine on the World Wide Webat http://www.eppc.ky.gov/educationoutreach/law/

Online

For the past two years, the Kentucky Division of Compliance Assistance (DCA)has been able to assist more than 1,000 entities dealing with waste and water compli-ance issues. This assistance effort resulted in facilities being able to more easilynavigate the permitting process, improve their environmental performance and resolveoutstanding regulatory issues.

In July, DCA expanded its services to become a “one-stop” service provider forair, water and waste assistance for all regulated entities within Kentucky. With theexpansion, DCA will continue to remain focused on small entities that often do nothave the financial or manpower resources necessary to understand and comply withtheir environmental obligations.

As part of the expansion, DCA has entered into an innovative partnership with theUniversity of Kentucky that will utilize $2 million in settlement monies to conductcompliance assistance projects. These projects will provide regulated entities withtraining, research, guidance documents and other resources necessary to better assistthem in meeting their environmental obligations.

“These funds, in combination with the university’s diverse skill set, create a greatopportunity for innovation surrounding environmental compliance assistance inKentucky,” said DCA Director Aaron Keatley, of the expansion.

DCA’s expanded services include:• Implementation of the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

(SBEAP).• Facilitation and ombudsman services.• Operation of the Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel and annual small

business awards.• On-site assessments.• Permit application assistance.• Operation of a toll-free hotline.• Regulatory updates and interpretation.• Inventory of compliance assistance resources and tool development.• Assistance with recordkeeping and reporting obligations.For more information on DCA, visit www.dca.ky.gov or call 800-926-8111. For

compliance assistance requests, contact Kenya Stump at kenya.stump@ky.gov.

DCA offers one-stop location forenvironmental compliance assistance

what’s insidefeatures

Printed by Post PrintingLexington, Kentucky

Fall 2007Volume 18 Number 4

contentsDCA offers one-stop location for environmental compliance assistance ................................................................. Inside front coverWild rivers protect beauty, habitat and diversity ........................................................ 1Record penalties issued in Rockwell settlement ......................................................... 3Cleaner and greener .................................................................................................... 5State, communities reach agreement on CSOs ........................................................... 6Task force opens dialogue with increasing funds for land acquisition ....................... 7Law requires EPPC certification of meth cleanup contractors ................................... 8Update on the Southeast Diesel Collaborative ......................................................... 11Mystery of the unhappy nitrifying bacteria ............................................................... 12Make a note: don’t waste paper ................................................................................ 13EPA proposes stronger smog standards .................................................................... 14Producing healthier hospitals .................................................................................... 15Reference document available .................................................................................. 15Recycling grants awarded ......................................................................................... 15In the spotlight: Kentucky’s rare species and communities ...................................... 17Forestry officials plan for the worst, ask for help ..................................................... 18Tire collection total is 16.5 million ........................................................................... 19Workshop seeks to continue brownfield grant success ............................................. 19MacSwords named second in command ................................................................... 20Storm water erosion prevention and sediment control training available ................. 20EQC seeks Earth Day nominations ........................................................................... 20Volunteers make clean sweep of river ........................................................ Back cover

2State workers support recycling initiative andeliminate outside contracts with documentdestruction companies.

State government increasespaper recycling.

on the cover

A treeline shows off fall’scanvas of brilliant colors.

Photographed byCindy Schafer on the

family farm inOwen County.

Dam inspections—greatand small.4

Marilyn Thomas takes you on an inspectionof Pulliam Dam in Franklin County.

Riding ATVs is a fun and thrilling pastime,but can Mother Nature handle it? Know therules of responsible riding.

9-10 Can ATVs and natureexist in harmony? 2

9-104

Land, Air & Water 1

Portions of nine Kentucky rivers of exceptional quality andaesthetic character are protected from development by the wildrivers system. Each wild river is actually a linear corridorencompassing all visible land on each side of the river up to adistance of 2,000 feet. The nine wild river corridors comprise atotal of 114 river miles and 26,382 acres of land.

The wild rivers system recognizes those rivers that retainmany of their natural attributes and protects them from unwise useand development. These rivers’ rights of way are protected fromwithin 2,000 feet of the middle of the watercourses. Someactivities strictly prohibited within a wild river corridor aresurface mining, clear cutting of timber and construction of damsor other in-stream disturbances. Developments that might impairthe rivers’ water quality or natural conditions are regulatedthrough a permit system.

The nine unspoiled rivers are rich in recreational opportuni-ties, yet they are also refuges for wild plants and animals. Thewild rivers provide living examples of natural ecological pro-cesses for nature study and scientific research. Impressions ofprimitive life can be found in their rock strata, while rock sheltersand caves preserve evidence of prehistoric cultures.

One of the best ways to enjoy Kentucky’s wild rivers is bykayak or canoe. Some rivers are perfect for the inexperiencedcanoeist. Others, like the Red River, can provide whitewaterchallenges to even the most experienced paddler.

The Red River corridor features some of the most spectacular

Wild rivers protect beauty, habitat and diversityBy Allison FleckDivision of Water

The mystique of the commonwealth’sunexplored wilderness remains in theunspoiled natural beauty of Kentucky’swild rivers, thanks to the foresight andwisdom of the General Assembly when itpassed the state’s Wild Rivers Act in1972.

canoeing water in the eastern United States. The 9.1-mile segmentfrom the KY 746 bridge to the mouth of Swift Camp Creek wasdesignated a Kentucky Wild River in 1973. The 19.4-milesegment from KY 746 to the ford below Schoolhouse Branch wasdesignated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1993. The rivertumbles over huge boulders in the narrow, twisting Red RiverGorge lined by towering cliffs with overhanging rock ledges,mature hemlock trees and thickets of rhododendron.

Other Wild River CorridorsBad Branch—14 miles from the headwaters on Pine Mountain to the KY 92 bridge. The stretch includes a spectacular 60-foot waterfall(Wayne and McCreary counties).Cumberland River—16.1 miles from Summer Shoals to the backwater of Lake Cumberland (McCreary and Whitley counties).Rockcastle River—15.9 miles of whitewater from the Old KY 80 bridge to the backwaters of Lake Cumberland (Pulaski and Laurel counties).Green River—26 miles of classic flatwater run with camping allowed on islands or riverside sites, abundant wildlife and rivers bubbling up fromunderground caverns (Edmonson County).Big South Fork of the Cumberland River—10.2 miles of whitewater from the Tennessee border to Blue Heron (Whitley County).Rock Creek—18 miles of good rainbow trout stream from the Tennessee border to the White Oak Junction bridge (McCreary County).Martins Fork of the Cumberland River—3.9 miles of shallow, non-navigable crystal clear waters in a grove of virgin hemlock trees(Harlan County).Little South Fork of the Cumberland River—10.4 miles from the KY 92 bridge in the backwaters of Lake Cumberland (Wayne and McCrearycounties).

TOP LEFT: Red River rocky rapids. Photo from MountainProject. comABOVE: Kayaking on the Red River. Photo from VisitUSA.com

Land, Air & Water2

State workers are being asked to help make our state No. 1 ingovernment employee paper recycling.The Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC)

has launched an initiative aimed at boosting paper recycling –Kentucky Government Recycles! Campaign 2007. EPPCSecretary Teresa J. Hill made the announcement during an EarthWeek event in Frankfort at the new government recyclingwarehouse that opened for operation in May.

Last year Kentucky state workers recycled on average about330 pounds of paper per employee. According to an informalsurvey, the nearest competition is Minnesota with an employeerecycling rate of 340 pounds.

“We are asking all state employees to join in and support the2007 paper recycling initiative. We need the assistance of everyperson, every office and every cabinet to make this happen,” saidSecretary Hill. “The Government Recycling Section employeesin the Division of Waste Management are the guys who make surethat most of the waste paper from government offices goes in therecycling bin and not the trash. Every weekday morning, they getin big box trucks and start making rounds to 100 office locationsin Frankfort. They all take their jobs very seriously and deserve alot of credit for the success of the program,” she said.

The paper recycling program began in December 1980 withone worker and a Chevy LUV truck. It has grown to become aself-sustaining program with six full-time employees whocollected more than 3.7 million pounds of white ledger paper,newspaper, mixed paper and corrugated boxes in 2006. Theprogram has already recycled more than 840,000 pounds of paperfrom state offices the first quarter of 2007.

Since the program is self-funded by proceeds from papersales, free recycling services—including confidential documentdestruction—are available to state agencies.

As part of the paper recycling initiative, recycling coordina-tors have been appointed in state agencies to help educate their

TOP LEFT: Brian Bentley, Government Recycling Section supervi-sor, talks with Lindsey Hix, recycling coordinator for the Office ofHomeland Security, during a warehouse tour.Photo by Eva Smith-CarrollABOVE: The new recycling center at 115 Northgate Drive inFrankfort. Photo by Cindy SchaferTOP RIGHT: EPPC Secretary Teresa J. Hill and employees in theDivision of Waste Management’s Government Recycling Section.(from left to right) Tim Bryant, Glenn Chadwell, Jason Craig, StevenFox, Secretary Hill and Brian Bentley. Photo by Fred Kirchhoff

KentuckyGovernment

Recycles!

Goal is to increase paper recyclingBy Eva Smith-CarrollDivision of Waste Management

Continued on Page 3

Land, Air & Water 3

A long-standing pollution case fromLogan County has been settled with recordpenalties issued by the Environmental andPublic Protection Cabinet (EPPC).

Governor Ernie Fletcher announceddetails of a $10 million civil penaltysettlement with Rockwell InternationalCorp. in a pollution case that dates back tothe 1980s.

Until the mid-1970s, the Rockwellplant in Russellville used hydraulic fluidcontaining cancer-causing polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs). Some of the fluidentered groundwater, streams and riversbeneath and near the facility. BecausePCBs persist in the environment,remediating their release is a lengthyprocess.

The $10 million settlement includes arecord payment to Kentucky of $2 millionin civil penalties and a payment of $2.5million in natural resource damages, also arecord. The latter payment is in compensa-tion for injury, destruction or loss ofnatural resources held in trust by the state.

The former Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection Cabinet—predecessor of the EPPC—obtained ajudgment against Rockwell in FranklinCircuit Court in 1997 that found thecompany in violation of state environmen-tal laws and regulations. Rockwell hadbegun cleanup and remediation activities

Record penalties issuedin Rockwell settlementBy Mark YorkOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

in the mid-1980s, prior to closing theplant.

A decision on civil penalties wasdeferred until substantial cleanup andremediation had been accomplished.Rockwell has submitted regular monitor-ing results and reports to the cabinet.

“Penalties are an important deterrent;however, I am especially excited about thesupplemental environmental projects(SEPs) that Rockwell has agreed toperform that will directly benefit thiscommunity and the entire state,” GovernorFletcher said. “In addition to the penaltiesand natural resource damages, the settle-ment contains $3.5 million in local waterand sewer projects to benefit citizens inthe area and $2 million to improveenvironmental compliance across Ken-tucky.”

The SEPs include:• $1,625,000 to the city of

Russellville to fund a sewer reconstructionproject and partially fund a water project.

• $906,250 to the city of Lewisburgfor a sewer reconstruction project and awater distribution system project.

• $531,250 to the East Logan WaterDistrict for system improvements.

• $437,500 to North Logan WaterDistrict for system improvements.

Rockwell also will fund a $2 millionstatewide environmental compliance

assistance program to be conducted bythe University of Kentucky (UK) underEPPC oversight. This program willprovide assistance to small businesses,cities and other organizations in comply-ing with air, water and waste require-ments.

“Small businesses across the statewill see the value in the collaborationbetween the University of Kentucky andthe Environmental and Public ProtectionCabinet,” Governor Fletcher said. “Manysmall businesses struggle enough withchallenges such as capital, research,marketing and customer service. Thepartnership with UK will provideassistance to small businesses as theymake efforts to comply with air, wasteand water requirements.”

co-workers on the benefits of paperrecycling.

“Governor Ernie Fletcher and hisadministration have wholeheartedlysupported and encouraged this program. Ihave sent all the cabinet secretaries a letterand talked with them about our 2007initiative. We want to recycle all stategovernment paper and eliminate outsidecontracts with private document destruc-tion companies,” said Secretary Hill. “Taxdollars can be saved by using EPPC’s freedestruction services. We are alreadymaking progress. Some state agencies,including the Department of Corrections,the Justice Cabinet, Cabinet for Health andFamily Services, Personnel Cabinet andthe Finance Cabinet have cancelledoutside vendor contracts and purchasedtheir own document destruction consolesthat will be serviced by EPPC staff forfree,” she continued.

For more information, contact BrianBentley, the Government RecyclingSection supervisor, by e-mailBrian.Bentley@ky.gov (EPPC DEPDWM), or by phone, 502-564-8070.Information is online at http://www.waste.ky.gov/branches/rla/Paper+Recycling.htm.

Kentucky GovernmentRecycles!Continued from Page 2

Governor Ernie Fletcherannounces the civil penaltysettlement with RockwellInternational. Seated (left toright) are Lloyd Cress,EPPC deputy secretary;Smokey Smotherman,chairman, North LoganWater District; and Dr.Lindell Ormsbee, director,Kentucky Water ResourcesResearch Institute. Standing(left) is Bill Stokes, chair-man, East Water District.Photo by Creative Services

Land, Air & Water4

The Wolf Creek Dam repair project bythe U.S. Corps of Engineers at Lake

Cumberland has brought the issue of dammaintenance and safety into full focus.The $309 million rehabilitation project onthe 4,000-foot, high-hazard earthen andconcrete structure is expected to takeseven years.

“When most people think about dams,they picture Wolf Creek or Hoover Dam,”said Division of Water dam safetyinspector Marilyn Thomas as she climbeda steeply sloping grass-covered hill. “Itdoesn’t have to be huge to be a dam, or tobe a potentially dangerous dam. Even a

small dam can be considered high hazard.It all depends on how much developmenthas occurred downstream.”

Thomas reached the summit andlooked out on a small lake surrounded bynew homes. At the far end lay Ducker’sGolf Course. Thomas was standing on topof Pulliam Dam in Franklin County. Theearthen dam is 285 feet long, 20 feet wideacross the top, 32 feet high and is one ofnearly 1,000 state-regulated dams inKentucky. It is classified as low-hazard,requiring inspection every five years.Moderate-hazard dams are inspected everytwo years, and high-hazard dams areinspected on an “as needed” basis.

Owners of dams have large obliga-tions to properly maintain and operate

Inspections pivotal to dam safetyBy Allison FleckDivision of Water

to liability claims or even criminalcharges.

Walking down to the water’s edge,Thomas explained some of the guidelinesfor proper maintenance and inspection ofdams in Kentucky.

“Most dam failures are caused byimproper design, construction andmaintenance,” she said. “Fortunately thepermitting process provides us withdetailed information about how the newones were built. For older dams, we haveto depend almost completely on physicaland visual clues.”

Thomas began her inspection on the

upstream side of the impoundment to makesure it is well-maintained.

“It has grass cover and has beenmowed and no trees are growing,” shenoted. “Trees are not good for damsbecause their roots reach down for water,creating leaks. Mowing also discouragesburrowing animals by eliminating bushygroundcover. The rip-rap looks secure andwill help stop erosion and will also deterburrowing. Muskrats especially are adam’s enemy. They can tunnel all the waythrough a dam.”

Thomas then walked across a grid-covered principal spillway checking fordebris and other obstructions. She

TOP and LOWER RIGHT: Dam safety inspector Marilyn Thomas checks the downstream embankment of Pulliam Dam for slumps and slidesthat could be symptomatic of seepage. ABOVE LEFT: Thomas checks for debris and other obstructions on the trash rack covering theprincipal spillway on Pulliam Dam. CENTER: Thomas evaluates the condition of the drawdown valve at Pulliam Dam. Photos by Allison Fleck

Continued on Page 16

their dams to prevent hazardous conditionsthat may affect downstream properties andresidents. Dam failures can subject owners

Land, Air & Water 5

Drink up and recycle

Two more Kentucky school districtswill soon be making strides in loweringemissions from their school bus fleets. OnMay 24, 2007, federal, state and localofficials celebrated the receipt of federalfunding that will enable the Montgomeryand Bourbon county school districts toreduce pollution from their diesel buses.

Montgomery County School DistrictTransportation Director Karen Gullet tookthe lead in applying for funds to imple-ment bus retrofits and partnered with theneighboring Bourbon County SchoolDistrict to help secure funds for bothschool bus fleets.

The school districts, working with theKentucky Division for Air Quality, won a$171,000 grant for its project from theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). Presenting the funding were CarolKemker, deputy director of EPA Region 4Division of Air, Pesticides and ToxicsManagement, and Lloyd Cress, KentuckyEnvironmental and Public ProtectionCabinet (EPPC) deputy secretary.

The EPA is encouraging schooldistricts across the nation to reducepollution from school buses, which are the

safest way to transport children toschool. It launched the Clean SchoolBus USA program in 2003 with thegoal of upgrading the nation’s schoolbus fleet to low-emission buses by2010 so that buses also will be thecleanest possible transportation forschool children.

Clean School Bus USA is a programof the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, apartnership between federal, state andlocal government, the private sector andother stakeholders in EPA’s southeasternregion. The collaborative seeks toimprove air quality by encouraging the useof clean, renewable energy and reducingdiesel emissions from existing engines.

In the next 12 months, Montgomeryand Bourbon county schools will retrofit atleast 12 buses with diesel particulate filtersand 39 buses with diesel oxidationcatalysts.

Diesel particulate filters will reducesooty emissions by 75 percent to 85percent and hydrocarbon and carbonmonoxide pollution by at least 60 percent.Diesel oxidation catalysts will reduce sootby at least 30 percent, hydrocarbons by at

Montgomery and Bourbon countyschool districts awarded funds forclean school buses

By Elizabeth RobbDivision for Air Quality

least 50 percent and carbon monoxideemissions by at least 30 percent. TheMontgomery County School District isalso burning a biodiesel blend in its fleetand has implemented an idling reductionstrategy. Air is cleaner for drivers andchildren aboard the buses, and the commu-nity benefits from reduced air pollution.

“I hope that this program will help ourstudents learn the importance of steward-ship of the environment,” said Montgom-ery County School Superintendent DanielFreeman. “I am glad that we are able todo our part in making our community a

better place to live and work.”Deputy Secretary Cress said the

district is to be commended for all itsclean-bus efforts.

“Retrofitting bus engines and reducingunnecessary idling will benefit air qualityand children's health,” Cress said.

For information on clean schoolbuses, go to http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/.

TOP LEFT: Montgomery County school busdrivers celebrate the funding along withEPPC’s Lloyd Cress and EPA Region 4’sCarol Kemker.

ABOVE: Shanda Brewer, school healthdirector for the Montgomery County SchoolDistrict, speaks about the children’s healthbenefits of the Clean School Bus program.Photos by Elizabeth Robb

Cleaner and greener

Land, Air & Water6

The CSOs to beaddressed underthe consent decreesare located inthe followingcommunities:

• Ashland (8)• Catlettsburg (5)• Frankfort (16)• Harlan (1)• Henderson (11)• Loyall (8)• Maysville (10)• Morganfield (2)• Owensboro (8)• Paducah (11)• Pikeville (3)• Pineville (3)• Prestonsburg (1)• Vanceburg (3)• Worthington (3)

State, communities reach agreement on CSOsBy Mark York

Office of Communications and Public Outreach

TOP: Jeff Perry,with the city ofFrankfort SewerDepartment, checksa CSO diversion.FAR LEFT: Thiscombined seweroutfall dischargescombined wastewa-ter (stormwater anduntreated sanitarywastewater) into theKentucky Riverduring significantrainfall.LEFT: The CSOdiversion (inside themanhole) has aflow-meteringdevice (blue box)that checks thequantity of un-treated wastewaterbeing released intostreams.Photos by CindySchafer

The history of Kentuckyand the development ofher cities and towns can be

traced to a dependence upon fresh,safe drinking water. It should come asno surprise that the commonwealth isthe only state with a border deter-mined in three directions by rivers.The eastern border is the Big SandyRiver and the Tug Fork; the northernborder is the Ohio and the westernborder is the Mississippi.

But the history of developmentalso reveals the state has not protectedthese important drinking watersupplies from pollution caused by thevery sewage systems designed tomanage the wastewater we produce.That will change as the Environmentaland Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC)and 15 communities have agreed toaddress the problem of combinedsewer overflows (CSOs).

Combined sewer systems collectrainwater runoff, domestic sewage andindustrial wastewater in the same pipe.During periods of heavy rainfall, thevolume in a combined sewer system mayexceed capacity, directly discharginguntreated wastewater into creeks, streamsand rivers, creating CSOs.

The 15 communities—from Paducahto Ashland—are now required to addressCSOs under consent decrees filed inFranklin Circuit Court by the cabinet. The

EPPC has previously filed consent decreesfor Louisville and northern Kentucky.

“CSOs have caused significantdamage to Kentucky’s most valuableresource, caused property damage andthreatened the health of our communities,”said Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the EPPC.“This action marks a truly monumentalstep to significantly improve water qualityin the state.”

Under the settlements, 94 CSOs willbe addressed by the communities, alongwith 77 sanitary sewer overflows, whichoccur when rainwater or groundwater gets

into sewers designed to carry onlywastewater.

Under the consent decrees, thecommunities will be required toimplement nine minimum controls(NMCs) contained in a policy adoptedby the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency. The NMCs are minimum,short-term, technology-based controlsused to address CSO problems withoutextensive engineering studies orsignificant construction costs. Theyprecede the implementation of long-term control measures.

The communities also are todevelop long-term control plans thatinclude public participation, cost/performance considerations, opera-tional plans and an implementationschedule for CSO controls that willbring the cities into compliance with

the federal Clean Water Act.More than 246,000 Kentuckians live

in the 15 communities affected by thesewer overflows.

Land, Air & Water 7

In Kentucky, there is an urgency toincrease our level of land conservation.To date, some very critical conservationwork has been achieved, yet much more isneeded. When compared to the sevensurrounding states, Kentucky is last intotal acreage of land conserved for naturalvalues. This translates to about 1 percentof Kentucky’s land mass, or 255,823 acresin state ownership. The amount offederally owned lands in Kentucky,including military reservations, is aboutaverage for the seven surrounding states—1,706,562 acres, or about 6.7 percent.

In 2006, the General Assemblyenacted House Concurrent Resolution(HCR) 120, creating the Land Conserva-tion and Stewardship Task Force. Co-chaired by Sen. Charlie Borders and Rep.Robin Webb, its directive was to assessthe need for land conservation in Ken-tucky and to investigate ways to financeand expand it.

The task force members met for thefirst time in January 2007. The informa-tional session was a chance for representa-tives from existing state conservationprograms to describe their accomplish-ments, needs and goals.

Dr. William H. Martin, a member ofthe task force, recounted the work of the

Heritage Land Conservation Fund(HLCF), which is the primary source ofstate funding for the purchase of naturalareas. In its first twelve years, HLCFfunded the acquisition and permanentprotection of 28,937 acres. While this is asubstantial accomplishment, consideringthe fact that Kentucky is a state of 25million acres, the need for increasing thescale of conservation becomes obvious.

During the second task force meeting,North Carolina’s Assistant Secretary forNatural Resources Richard Rogersreported on his state’s challenging goal ofprotecting an additional 1 million acres ofopen space and farmland by the end of2009. North Carolina is escalating landconservation to get ahead of a projected 50percent population increase by the year2030.

Dr. Jim Farr, of the Florida Divisionof State Lands, discussed his state’sprogram for land acquisition that is basedon $300 million per year over a 10-yearperiod. Farr also pointed out that Florida’sfunding has exceeded that of the federalgovernment for land acquisition in all 50states since 1990. Approximately 25percent of Florida is managed for conser-vation or related purposes.

James Aldrich, director of the

Kentucky chapter of The Nature Conser-vancy (TNC) rounded out the discussionof TNC’s work in the state, guided by itsecosystem-based approach and efforts toaccess more federal funds.

Lynn Garrison, Kentucky Departmentof Fish and Wildlife Resources, provided asummary of the varied conservationprograms in use across the country.Garrison also focused on the variety offunding that has been employed, the mostcommon of which is bonds. Other diversesources include lottery proceeds, realproperty transfer fees, recording fees,nature license plates, cigarette taxes, oil/gas/mineral taxes, gasoline taxes, appro-priations, environmental fines and statesales taxes, among others.

The task force had its third and finalmeeting on June 6. Donna Neary, execu-tive director of the Kentucky HeritageCouncil, spoke of how culturally importantsites like Native American archeologicaland Civil War sites are often found onnatural or undeveloped lands that areimportant for both cultural and biologicalpurposes.

The commonwealth of Virginia plansto protect an additional 400,000 acres ofland by the year 2010, as discussed by an

Task force opens dialogue with increasingfunds for land acquisitionBy Don DottKentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

Continued on next page

The Kentucky River (Fayette County/Madison County). Photo by Brian Yahn, KSNPC

Land, Air & Water8

Under a new law passed by the 2007 General Assembly, contractors who decontami-nate methamphetamine labs located on “inhabitable properties,” excluding hotels, mustbe certified by the Superfund Branch in the Environmental and Public ProtectionCabinet’s Division of Waste Management.

Chemicals and equipment used to “cook” meth in illegal makeshift labs create animmediate danger of explosion and fire. The process also leaves behind waste thatcontaminates the site—often a house, apartment or other dwelling—and poses a threatboth to the environment and the health of future occupants. The list of potential healthhazards is extensive—burns, blindness, birth defects, cancer and damage to the lungs,heart, liver and thyroid. Burying meth waste or pushing it into a sinkhole contaminatesthe soil, water table and underground streams, and puts people and animals at risk.

The Kentucky State Police has specially trained troopers who remove and properlydispose of the chemicals and equipment found at meth lab sites. However, residualcontamination remains that must be addressed.

The new contractor certification requirement and a cleanup standard are aimed atensuring these sites are properly decontaminated. For more information, contact KimLeingang in the Superfund Branch by e-mail at Kim.Leingang@ky.gov or by phone502-564-6716, ext. 236 or go online to www.waste.ky.gov.

Law requires EPPC certificationof meth cleanup contractorsBy Eva Smith-CarrollDivision of Waste Management

Kentucky State Police troopers don protective suits and breathing apparatus prior to meth labcleanup operations. Photo courtesy of the KSP

A word of warningIf you find what you suspect is a meth lab, do not move, touch or smell any

container or its contents. Contact law enforcement. The Kentucky State Police hotlineis 1-800-222-5555.

Extensive information on recognizing meth labs, how to protect yourself and whoto call is online at the University of Kentucky’s Health Education through ExtensionLeadership (HEEL) site http://www.ca.uky.edu/heel/Land/index.htm.

According to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, there has been a decrease inmeth production in Kentucky due to a couple of factors—a 2005 state law restrictingsale of over-the-counter medication used as an ingredient and availability of methproduced in Mexico at super labs. However, there are still an average of three or fournew meth labs discovered in Kentucky every week.

Oldham County conservation representa-tive. A major component of Virginia’splan is a conservation tax credit, whichhas been very successful in protecting landwith conservation easements. A conserva-tion easement tax credit has been beforethe Kentucky General Assembly twice. In2007 it was adopted by Gov. ErnieFletcher as his conservation initiative incoordination with Dr. Jon Gassett,commissioner of the Kentucky Depart-ment of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Hank Marks and Mark Mitchell, ofthe Legislative Research Commission(LRC), provided information on localapproaches and authorities for landconservation. The task force revieweddraft findings, recommendations andconcerns, and the LRC will finalize areport for the task force.

If a public survey was conducted,strong support for conservation wouldlikely be revealed. The Trust for PublicLand reports that nationwide, 80 percentof ballot initiatives to fund conservationare passed by the public. Often thesemeasures impose taxes to underwrite landconservation projects.

Clearly, land protection and conserva-tion is a national priority. It is certain tobe a priority for Kentucky’s citizens, giventhe very diverse and outstanding naturallands of the commonwealth.

There appeared to be strong sentimentamong the task force members forrenewing its authority in the next GeneralAssembly. This would be key to sculptinga strategically expanded conservationinitiative for Kentucky. If that happens,your support will be needed to gainpassage with phone calls, letters orpersonal visits to your state representativeand senator.

Expanded land conservation inKentucky will not only benefit us in ourlifetimes, but even more so the generationswho live on this land after us. It willrequire forward thinking, a great deal ofcoordinating and strong public support toenact a well-funded land conservationprogram in Kentucky.

Task force opensdialogue with increasingfunds for land acquisitionContinued from previous page

Land, Air & Water 9

Recreation or ruinationBy Cindy SchaferOffice of Communications and Public Outreach

ATV use can exact a heavy toll on Kentucky’s natural resources. Who’s toblame? Riders who wander from designated trails and trespass on public andprivate lands. The destruction they leave behind remains long after the dustsettles.

“No one wants to limit anyone’s right to enjoy their favorite recreation,” saidJoyce Bender of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC).“People must receive permission before they ride on someone’s property, andthey need to obey the rules.”

Kentucky state nature preserves are off limits to ATVs and other off-highwayvehicles (OHVs). However, that hasn’t stopped die-hard riders in search of newareas to explore.

“Because of the excessive number of ATV and OHV trespassing within theBlanton Forest State Nature Preserve and Bad Branch State Nature Preserve,

fragile wetlands, known as seeps located nearthe top of the mountain, have had theirhydrology altered,” said Bender.

Plants that naturally occur there are dying

All-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, havebecome increasingly popular as ameans of adventure travel over

and through Kentucky’s hills and valleys.Whether you ride on your own propertyor on an organized trail system, respon-sible riding habits and respect for theoutdoors have to become second nature.

• Learn about the area where you will ride. Understand area restrictionsand have permission to ride on private property.• Obey all trail markers and closure signs.• Wear protective riding gear.• Never carry multiple riders on an ATV.• Do not blaze trails. If a trail is not signed, it is not a legal trail.• Take your trash with you. “Pack it in, pack it out.”

Safety tips and responsible riding habits youshould know:

TOP: Riders stuck in a bog are caught in theact at Bad Branch State Nature Preserve.

LEFT (top and bottom): Road damage withinthe Natural Bridge State Park Nature Preserve.Photos provided by the Kentucky State Nature PreservesCommission

Land, Air & Water10

as the soils dry out when water flow isdiverted into tire ruts. Seeps, and thevegetation they support, develop veryslowly. Once these sites are disturbed,they may never completely recover.

“Mud bogging” not only causes waterquality problems but can spread invasiveplants and insects. Caked mud on tiresand chassis can contain—and transport—undesirable seeds. Insects, such as theHemlock woolly adelgid, which hasbecome a major threat to hemlocks in themountains of eastern Kentucky, also canhitch a ride.

The ill effects are not exclusive tonature preserves. The KentuckyDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Re-sources (KDFWR) reports a number ofincidents within various Wildlife Manage-ment Areas (WMAs).

“Habitat degradation on some of ourWMAs has become serious,” said MarkCramer of the KDFWR. “Illegal use ofATVs often results in erosion and water-way sedimentation.”

Erosion occurs when vegetation isworn away and soil becomes less stable.Plant life, which holds the soil in placewith their roots, has a difficult timereproducing, worsening runoff. Erosionalso alters the natural flow of water.

WMAs are set aside specifically forwildlife use, and ATVs are prohibited.Conservation officers monitor the WMAsand ticket anyone found in unauthorizedareas. But they can’t be in all places at alltimes.

“It is our responsibility to look out forthe proper stewardship of the land,” said

Cramer. “Hunters and anglers help buythese public lands when they purchasehunting and fishing licenses.”

In Kentucky, 94 percent of the land isprivately owned. That means there arevery few places for the ATV enthusiastwho doesn’t own land to ride.

“Because of the lack of trails inven-tory in Kentucky, people get bored withwhat’s available and make new ones,” saidKristen Branscum of the CommerceCabinet. “In 2006, Governor ErnieFletcher created the Kentucky Recre-ational Trails Authority (KRTA) toincrease land access for recreational use

Continued on Page 12

LEFT: A scenic overlook withinthe Daniel Boone National Forestalong the White Sulfur ATVtrailhead. Photo by Cindy Schafer

BELOW LEFT: Riders stop toenjoy the fall foliage along adesignated trail in Harlan Countyat the Black Mountain Off-RoadAdventure Park.Photo by the Tourism Cabinet

BELOW RIGHT: One of manydesignated trails at White Sulfur.Photo by Cindy Schafer

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/drvsmart/

atvlaws.htm• ATV Safety Institute:

http://www.atvsafety.org• Kentucky Trails Viewer:

http://kygeonet.ky.gov/kytrails/viewer.htm

• Kentucky Mountain Trailsof Harlan County:

www.harlancountytrails.com

Visit these Web sitesfor more information:

Land, Air & Water 11

In June, the coalition of partners metfor its second annual meeting. Its goalsincluded:

• Providing a national perspectiveand spotlighting the nexus betweenenvironment, public health, agriculture,construction, energy and transportation.

• Providing an update on the latestclean, renewable diesel and emergingemission reduction technologies andresearch.

• Highlighting cost-effective strate-gies for emission reductions while advanc-ing opportunities for regional economicgrowth and energy independence.

For Kentucky, the conference includedmany highlights. Lloyd Cress, deputysecretary of the Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet, participated in aroundtable that discussed priorities andchallenges for environmental, agriculture,economic, transportation, energy andcommunity development of clean dieselprograms. Melissa Howell, of the Ken-tucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC),discussed recent developments in therenewable fuel infrastructure of Kentucky.

The Association of General Contrac-tors (AGC) of Kentucky was recognizedfor receiving a National Clean Diesel grantfor retrofitting diesel constructionequipment.

Cress Emphasizes Childrens’ HealthDuring the roundtable session, Cress

emphasized the importance of protectingchildren—an especially vulnerablepopulation—from diesel fumes. Heencouraged EPA to continue to providefunding for school districts to retrofit,

replace and refuel school bus fleets and toencourage the adoption of idle-reductionrules.

“Educating our youth about theimportance of clean air, ways that theycan make a difference and how the schooldistrict is doing its part can make a lastingimpression on the leaders of tomorrow,”said Cress. “The potential ripple effectsare great.”

KCFC SuccessesThe KCFC has long led the state in

the race to ensure a reliable renewablefuels infrastructure for the common-wealth. Renewable fuels generallybenefit air quality because when burnedthey emit less pollution. KCFC hasworked to ensure that clean, renewablefuels (made in Kentucky or imported)meet the high-quality ASTM (AmericanSociety for Testing and Materials)standard; that incentives to increaseproduction and availability of renewablefuels abound; and that biofuels are widelyavailable across Kentucky.

Owensboro Grain, a member of theKCFC, opened a 50-million-gallonbiodiesel production plant in August.KCFC also collaborated with MarathonAshland Petroleum to place a biodieselstorage tank in its Louisville terminal,increasing availability of biodiesel for thestate. KCFC is currently working tocreate community biodiesel hubs inBowling Green, Lexington, Monticelloand Winchester. It is also assistingUnited Parcel Service, the Kroger Co.and Jefferson County Public Schools withtheir renewable fuel programs.

AGC of Kentucky Receives AwardThe AGC of Kentucky received a

National Clean Diesel grant for $50,000 topromote the adoption of clean dieseltechnology by retrofitting existing legacyfleet construction equipment. AGC’s keypartner in the implementation of the grantis Messer Construction Co., an AGC ofKentucky member. The funds are beingused primarily to purchase and installclean diesel retrofit equipment on 36pieces of construction equipment—nearlyhalf of Messer Construction’s fleet.Equipment will be retrofitted with dieseloxidation catalysts, which reduce tailpipeemissions. The equipment, includingcranes, skid steers, rough terrain forkliftsand others, will be deployed at variousconstruction projects across Kentucky.The AGC will then monitor and report onair quality improvements to state andfederal environmental agencies.

The AGC is the first generalcontractor’s association state chapter in thenation to be awarded funding from EPAfor the retrofitting of construction equip-ment. It won the award in part because ofits comprehensive approach to educateAGC members about the benefits ofretrofitting heavy equipment.

To join the Southeast Diesel Collabo-rative, visit www.southeastdiesel.org orcontact Elizabeth.Robb@ky.gov.

By Elizabeth RobbDivision for Air Quality

Update on the SoutheastDiesel Collaborative

The Southeast Diesel Collaborative (SEDC) is apartnership whose members include federal, state and

local government agencies, nongovernmental organiza-tions, businesses and other stakeholders in the southeast.Its goal is to improve air quality by encouraging the use ofclean, renewable energy and by reducing diesel emissionsfrom existing engines and equipment from the agriculture,heavy construction and on-road sectors.

ABOVE: Lloyd Cress (right) discussesvoluntary and regulatory policy shifts inKentucky that benefit air quality and couldserve as model programs for other statesduring a roundtable session. Photo by Elizabeth Robb

Land, Air & Water12

and help counties provide more places toride, which decreases trespassing.”

Consequently, liability is a legitimateconcern to landowners who consideropening up their land for recreation. TheKRTA will work with landowners bymanaging their property and taking onthose liabilities. The authority alsorecognizes the importance of trail-relatededucation such as safety, laws, compatibil-ity and abiding by environmental regula-tions.

For now, there are designated trailsystems that are well managed, monitoredand readily available for ATV use. HarlanCounty has about 6,000 acres of mountain-ous terrain and more than 200 miles ofmarked coal mining roads at the BlackMountain Off-Road Adventure Park.

“The park is a poster child forresponsible riding,” said Branscum.

The park’s trails are clearly markedwith signage that includes informationabout terrain and appropriate speed.

Recreation or ruination Continued from Page 10

Helmets are also required.“These old mining and logging roads

provide the perfect opportunity forrecreation,” said Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop.

This “coal mine to gold mine” park,which attracts 3,000 to 4,000 riders onweekends, provides a way to continueusing the land and is equipped with avariety of trails for every level of rider.

“Families and individuals can ridethese trails, breathe fresh air and viewpristine mountainous overlooks,” saidGrieshop. “ATVs and nature can coexist.If we give people plenty of designatedplaces to ride, they will stay out of theprotected areas.”

As for the problems still faced at thenature preserves and WMAs, Bender andCramer predict that surveillance cameraswill be installed to catch and prosecuteviolators.

“One thing is apparent,” said Cramer.“There is a tremendous need for more land

for people to ride on. We are fullysupportive of places with properlyconstructed, designated trail systems andthe desire to pursue even more appropriateplaces. Our WMAs are simply not thesolution to the problem.”

Four-wheeling has the potential tobring big tourism to Kentucky. BlackMountain Off-Road Adventure Park is atestament to this popular pastime. So,whether you’re a full-throttle rider or takethe slower tourist approach, there areenough designated areas throughout thestate where you can legally whet your off-road appetite.

ATVs are sold as being able to go justabout anywhere in any condition, but trailriders cannot traverse the laws of property.

“There needs to be a balance,” saidBender. “People can have their motorizedenjoyment, but they need to be respectfulof nature. If they aren’t, what will be leftfor our children and grandchildren toenjoy?”

The city of Wilmore, a quaint turn-of-the-century village of6,000 located in central Jessamine County, was in a quandary. InFebruary 2006, the city’s wastewater treatment plant was experi-encing problems in complying with the ammonia nitrogenlimitations placed on its Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimina-tion System permit.

Domestic or sanitary wastewaters have limitations on theamount of ammonia nitrogen that may be discharged. Thispollutant in elevated concentrations can cause a number ofdetrimental effects to the water quality of the stream to which thewastewater treatment plant discharges. Removal of ammonianitrogen is usually achieved through a biological treatmentprocess in which organisms called nitrifying bacteria consume thenitrogen, thus altering the composition of the ammonia nitrogenand reducing its effect.

The wastewater treatment plant operators began investigatingthe problem. As this was a problem not previously experienced,they requested assistance from the Kentucky Division of Waterand Division of Compliance Assistance. In April 2006 a compli-ance assistance specialist conducted a site visit to assess thesituation. Two possible causes were identified.

First it was speculated that the nitrifying bacteria may havebeen stressed, thus impairing its effectiveness. Since a customerof the plant had recently replaced an old boiler system, there wasthe possibility that chemicals used during that process had

stressed the bacteria.The second possible cause was the decant stream from the

mobile belt press. Belt presses are used to reduce the amount ofwater contained in a wastewater treatment plant’s sludge. Thewater squeezed out of the sludge is usually returned to the waste-water treatment plant for additional treatment. An analysis of thedecant stream revealed elevated levels of ammonia.

To rule out other possible causes, the investigating team alsoevaluated the levels of dissolved oxygen and pH, the samplinglocation and techniques, and the laboratory analysis procedures.

In May 2006 corrective actions and remedial measures wereput in place. The mobile belt press decant stream was redirected tothe head of the plant, which provided additional treatment. Re-seeding the plant with activated sludge added more nitrifyingbacteria. By the end of May, the bacteria had recovered and theammonia nitrogen concentrations returned to acceptable levels.

Valuable insights can be gained in how to keep a wastewatertreatment plant healthy, in compliance and the bacteria happy—know the optimum conditions for maintaining a happy colony ofnitrifying bacteria; exercise proper sampling collection andanalysis procedures; practice operational and maintenanceprocedures in a timely manner; and always know your customers.

For more information, contact the Division of Water atwww.water.ky.gov or the Division of Compliance Assistance atwww.dca.ky.gov.

Mystery of the unhappy nitrifying bacteriaBy Kenya Stump, Division of Compliance Assistanceand Larry Sowder, Division of Water

Land, Air & Water 13

Aluminumfacts

Since humans came up withthe written language, they

have scribbled on a variety ofmaterials—cave walls, stoneand clay tablets, parchmentmade from animal skin, silk,bamboo and papyrus madefrom an Egyptian reed.

The Chinese were the firstpeople to produce paper as weknow it today—made withpulped cellulose fibers likewood, cotton or flax. Theresulting cheap paper was aboon to writers everywhere.There are 350 million maga-zines, 2 billion books and 24billion newspapers publishedin America every year. Add inpackaging, etc., and theaverage person uses an

Make a note: don’t waste paperReduce, reuse, recycle

By Eva Smith-Carroll and Tom HeilDivision of Waste Management

estimated 700 pounds of paperproducts annually.

What happens to all thewaste paper that is generated?The good news is a lot ofdiscarded paper goes in therecycle bin and is made intonew products. Earlier this yearthe American Forest & PaperAssociation (AF&PA) an-nounced that a record 53.5million tons—53.4 percent ofthe paper used in the U.S.—were recovered for recycling in2006. Nearly 360 pounds ofpaper were recovered for everyperson, up from 233 poundsper person in 1990.

However, paper still takesup a lot of landfill space. Sincethe 1950s, paper and paper-

board packaging has been theNo. 1 material that we throwaway—35-40 pounds of every100 pounds of trash.

It doesn’t have to be thatway. Even in ancient times,uses were found for olddocuments. Linen mummywrappings were often supple-mented with “several layers ofpapyrus usually discarded byadministrative offices,”according to “HistoricalPapyrus” by Jimmy Dunn. Ifyou don’t have a mummy thatneeds wrapped, there are stillmany ways that you can keeppaper out of landfills.

ReduceUsing one less sheet of

paper a day adds up to half aream, or 250 sheets per year,according to “Use Less Stuff”by Robert Lilienfeld and Dr.William Rathje. That’s about 5pounds. If all the students atan average-sized Kentuckyschool—around 500 stu-dents—saved a sheet a day, itwould add up to a ton in lessthan a year.

Using less or recyclingthat much paper saves 7,000gallons of water, 463 gallons ofoil and enough energy to heatan average home for sixmonths, according to Quest forLess, an EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)publication.

Continued on Page 16

Recycling illustration provided by Noel Fordhttp://www.ford1.demon.co.uk/

Land, Air & Water14

EPA proposes stronger smog standardsBy Elizabeth RobbDivision for Air Quality

The federal Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) is responsible for setting a health-basedstandard for six air pollutants, known as theNational Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).EPA is currently proposing to strengthen thenational standard for ground-level ozone. Recentscientific evidence about the health effects ofozone suggests that a more stringent standard isnecessary to protect public health.

EPA is especially concerned about the elderly,people with existing health problems such asasthma and emphysema, and those who spend alot of time outdoors, including children, athletesand those who work outside.

Ground-level ozone can harm the lungs ofhealthy people and can result in increasedmedication use and hospital visits for asthmatics.EPA is estimating that health benefits of a revisedstandard could be in the billions of dollars.

Ozone (O3) is a secondary pollutant—onethat is not directly emitted into the atmosphere.Ozone is formed when a chemical reaction takesplace between oxides of nitrogen and volatileorganic compounds in the presence of sunlight.Emissions from industrial facilities, electricutilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vaporsand chemical solvents are the major man-madesources of these ozone precursors.

The proposal recommends an ozone standardwithin a range of 0.070 and 0.075; however, theEPA received public comment on alternativestandards as well, ranging from 0.060 to thecurrent standard of 0.080.

At the state level, the Kentucky Division forAir Quality is charged with protecting publichealth by ensuring that counties of the common-wealth meet these standards.

Nationally, and within the commonwealth,ozone levels have dropped significantly since1977 when ozone became listed as a criteriapollutant regulated by the NAAQS. EPA hasapproved Kentucky’s request to place Boyd,Bullitt, Christian, Jefferson and Oldham countieson the list of counties meeting the current stan-dard. This leaves only Boone, Campbell andKenton counties on the nonattainment list —counties that are placed there not because ofactual ozone levels in their counties, but ratherbecause of their potential emission contributionsto ozone levels in the Cincinnati area.

However, this could change if the EPAadopts a more stringent ozone standard. Themap below shows which counties could beplaced on the nonattainment list should the EPAadopt the 0.070 or the 0.075 standard. TheDivision for Air Quality would work with localareas to develop emissions reduction strategies.

EPA is also considering revising a second-ary standard designed to protect sensitive plants,including some agricultural crops.

EPA has not determined when they willrelease a final rule on this issue.

TOP: The Kentuckycounties of Boyd, Bullitt,Christian, Jefferson andOldham meet the currentozone standard of .08 inany eight-hour period.

BELOW: The proposalto strengthen ozonestandards to between0.070 and 0.075 wouldaffect many Kentuckycounties. The EPA isconcerned with healtheffects caused by ozone.Maps provided by theDivision for Air Quality

Land, Air & Water 15

The Environmental Quality Commission(EQC) has released its latest publication, areference guide for annual, biannual andintermittent environmental publications thathave been released within the previous twoyears by the Environmental and PublicProtection Cabinet (EPPC). The guideprovides reports produced by the Depart-ment for Environmental Protection,Department for Natural Resources andthe independent commissions of theEPPC.

In addition to providing anintroduction to each environmentalreport published by the cabinet, theguide also provides contact informa-tion and Web addresses, if available.As an additional feature, a CD-ROMis included containing the referenceguide and each report in its entirety.

The EQC decided to compile these environmentalreports at the request of commission member Andrew Ernest. He suggested

that many Kentucky citizens are not aware of the plethora of information availablethrough state-published reports. The EQC would like to increase the public’s knowledgeof this available information through a series of biannual reference guides.

The document has already been mailed to public libraries and schools across thecommonwealth. If you would like to receive a copy of the reference guide, contactthe EQC by e-mail at EQC@ky.gov or by telephone at 502-564-3410.

Reference document availableBy Johnna McHughEnvironmental Quality Commmission

Hospitals and health care facilitiesthroughout Kentucky provide citizens withimportant services that would be difficultto live without. However, those samefacilities produce an abundance of wasteproducts and consume considerableamounts of energy on a daily basis.

In June, the Department for Environ-mental Protection (DEP), in collaborationwith the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) Region 4, KentuckyHospital Association and KentuckyPollution Prevention Center, offered anenvironmental compliance assistanceworkshop to these facilities, whichprovided information and resourcesneeded to comply with federal and stateregulations.

Producing healthier hospitals

A broad spectrum of health careservice representatives attended includinghospitals, nursing homes, mental healthfacilities, private physicians and medicalcenters. The one-day workshop high-lighted waste reduction opportunities andprovided pollution prevention tools thatwould save money and help facilities tobecome environmental partners in thecommunity.

The EPA presented information onways facilities could become morecompliant with federal regulations andexplained the affects each has on theenvironment through the generation oflarge quantities of waste and the consump-tion of vast amounts of energy.

Kentucky’s Department of Labor and

DEP’s Water, Waste Management and AirQuality divisions presented information onhazardous waste, biomedical waste,asbestos and the Clean Water Act.

Participants were also introduced toKentucky’s voluntary environmentalleadership program—KY EXCEL. Arepresentative from St. Elizabeth MedicalCenter of Edgewood, one of the foundingmembers of KY EXCEL, spoke regardingthe benefits of taking a more active role inthe environment.

Saving money has always been apriority for hospitals and health carefacilities. The Kentucky Pollution Preven-tion Center discussed pollution prevention,energy efficiency and environmentalmanagement systems that focus on savingmoney.

At the end of the day, workshopattendees were better informed about theaffects their facilities have on the environ-ment and were energized to make im-provements at their workplace. TheDepartment for Environmental Protectionand the Kentucky Hospital Associationplan to hold more workshops concerningenvironmental influences hospitals andhealth care facilities have on theircommunity.

By Natalie JensenDepartment for Environmental Protection

The Division of Waste Managementhas awarded 26 recycling grants, totaling$2,297,541, from the Kentucky PrideFund. The fund, expanded by the GeneralAssembly in 2006 to include funding forrecycling, collects a $1.75 fee for everyton of municipal solid waste disposed of inKentucky landfills.

The recycling grant program is aimedat enhancing Kentucky’s recyclinginfrastructure and boosting the state’shousehold recycling rate to well above thenational average of 28.5 percent.Kentucky’s current rate is 27 percent.

The grants require a minimum of 25percent local match in the form of cash or“in kind” services, materials or equipment.

A list of grant recipients and plannedexpenditures are online at http://kentucky.gov/Newsroom/environment/6-28recyclinggrants.htm.

Recycling grants awarded

Land, Air & Water16

Make a note: don’t waste paperContinued from Page 13

Thomas reached the base of thedownstream side of the dam and studiedthe stilling basin where water from theimpoundment is released into the outletchannel. Finding no obstructions or cave-ins around the concrete box holding thepipe, she walked the length of the emer-gency spillway back to the top of the dam.

“The emergency spillway is a criticalcomponent of any dam, since it preventswater from overtopping the dam duringheavy precipitation,” said Thomas. “If leftin place, obstructions in the spillway cancatch trash and reduce capacity, resultingin hydraulic failure of the embankment.”

Thomas completed her inspectionnotes and took one last look around her,obviously enjoying the warm afternoon.

“This was pretty easy to get to, butdam inspections sometimes take us to wildand wooly places,” she said. “I’ve seeneagles, deer, wild turkey—one time abobcat jumped on the hood of my car. If Ismell cucumber, I know there’s a copper-head nearby, and rattlesnakes don’talways buzz.”

Inspections pivotalto dam safetyContinued from Page 4

What about saving trees? The Paper University, a site sponsored by TAPPI (foundedas the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), makes the point that wholetrees, or “round wood,” only make up a third of materials used to make paper (the othertwo-thirds are wood chips from saw mills and recovered paper), and those trees aregrown specifically for the timber and fiber pulp industries. So while some trees are“saved,” saving trees isn’t necessarily the No. 1 reason for conserving paper.

ReuseThere are a number of ways to reuse paper. Use junk mail as scrap paper. Give your

magazines to a nursing home or school. Use both sides when printing or writing. Usepaper to make paper (there are several recipes online).

RecycleIt costs about $30 per ton to dispose of paper in the landfill, but that same ton could

bring $120 per ton in revenue if sold to a recycler. Not recycling means millions ofdollars in potential revenue lost in Kentucky alone. In 2004, $12.5 million for cardboardand $7 million for newspaper was lost when the paper went to the landfill instead ofbeing sold.

Who is buying waste paper? Paper and paper products manufacturers, includingthese Kentucky facilities:

• Weyerhaeuser/Henderson Containerboard—a mill that produces linerboard (flatsheets on the outside of a corrugated box) and corrugated medium (used to make the“wavy” paper sandwiched between) from 100 percent recycled containerboard. Annuallythe mill recycles more than 210,000 tons of old boxes and waste paper collected by itsparent company. Weyerhaeuser recycling facilities handle more than 6.7 million tons ofpaper each year including 83,247 tons in 2006 from Kentucky. More than half is used bycompany mills and the rest is sold. Weyerhaeuser considers recycling good for theeconomy and the environment. “A commitment to sustainability is not enough,” saysErnesta Ballard, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. “We need action at everylevel in companies, communities and government. Recycling demonstrates commit-ment—good business and good stewardship.”

• NewPage/Wickliffe—a mill that produces a high-quality coated paper used by thenation's premier commercial printers, publishers, corporate end users, design profession-als and converters for annual reports, magazines, catalogs, direct mail, books/yearbooksand glue-applied labels. NewPage concurs with the EPA recommendation of a minimumof 10 percent post-consumer fiber content for coated papers and offers 10 percent post-consumer on all grades of paper it sells, according to Wickliffe mill spokesman SandraS. Wilson.

• Temple-Inland/Maysville—a 100 percent recycled linerboard mill that processes1,300 tons of used boxes per day for a total, since its 1992 startup, of more than 6million tons of old corrugated containers turned into new brown paper. An estimated 15percent of the 500,000 tons recycled annually comes from Kentucky. The mill was oneof the first Master members in Kentucky’s environmental leadership program, KYEXCEL, and has been a member of the National Environmental Performance Track forfour years. “At Temple-Inland, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to improveboth our environmental and economic performance. Our manufacturing operations havea history of embracing sustainable solutions for product and waste re-use,” according toa statement from the company. As with other more consumer-driven recyclables likealuminum, “…every ton of waste paper converted into good usable paper eliminatesunnecessary landfill waste that our children’s children will have to deal with eventually.”

To learn more about recycling and waste reduction, go to the Division of WasteManagement Web site—www.waste.ky.gov or call 502-564-6716. AF&PA Tools forTeachers is online at http://paperrecycles.org/tools_for_teachers/index.html.

Marilyn Thomas is an engineer consultant inthe Division of Water. She has worked with the damsafety program throughout her 29-year career withthe division. In addition, she works with thefloodplain management program, National FloodInsurance Program and with Kentucky EmergencyManagement, Region 4 of the U.S. Corps ofEngineers and local governments to developemergency action plans for communities down-stream of Wolf Creek Dam.

Thomas is a member of the Association ofState Dam Safety Officials and has served on a taskforce to develop a model emergency action plan forNatural Resources and Conservation Service damsnationwide. She belongs to the Association of StateFloodplain Managers and the Kentucky Associationof Mitigation Managers.

inspected the drawdown valve and pipe forrust and tampering.

Climbing back to the top of the dam,Thomas noticed a small indentation in theearth that had not appeared on the previousinspection report.

“This could indicate some caving, butit could be left from a repair project,” shesaid. “I’m also on the lookout for patchesof bright green grass, which could indicatethe site of a leak. During winter, I wouldlook for a snowmelt for the same reason.”

Land, Air & Water 17

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission Status: Endangered.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Status: Endangered.General Description: A 2-inch to 3-inch elongate freshwatermussel, one of more than 100 kinds known from Kentucky.Habitat: Stream bottoms of small to large rivers in sand andgravel.Range: Formerly widely distributed in Kentucky; now restrictedto the upper Green River and the Ohio River.Reasons for Listing: Habitat degradation and loss.

Clubshell (Pleurobema clava)

State Status: Special concern.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Status: None.

Photo by KSNPC staff

Kentucky Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys gapperi maurus)

General Description: A small rodent with short tail and grizzled,grayish fur with a strong reddish-brown tint down the middle of theback.Habitat: Inhabits moist, high elevation deciduous forest.Range: Widespread across much of Canada, the northern tier ofstates in the U.S., and south through the Rocky and Appalachianmountains. However, the subspecies C. g. maurus is found only inthe Cumberland Mountains of southeastern Kentucky, westernVirginia and northeastern Tennessee.Reason for Protection Status: This small mammal is very restricted inrange. The forested areas where it is found are being reduced bysurface mining. Photo by John R. MacGregor

Cumberland Highlands ForestKentucky State Nature Preserves Commission Status: Endangered.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Status: None.General Description: This rare type of northern hardwood forestoccurs only on the highest mountain ridges in the CumberlandMountains of southeast Kentucky. Rich mesic conditions prevail witha cooler climate and as much as 60 inches of precipitation per year.The canopy is dominated by black cherry, yellow birch and sugarmaple, with basswood, mountain magnolia, yellow buckeye and beechalso present. Understory species include witch hazel, striped maple,mountain holly and alternate-leaved dogwood. A rich herb and fernlayer is present with several species that do not occur elsewhere inKentucky. Dense beds of large white trillium, false solomon’s-seal,wild geranium and many other species cover the ground. Rare speciesthat are characteristic include rosy twisted stalk, mountain angelica,Turk’s cap lily and small flowered false hellebore.Range: Occurs primarily on Black Mountain in Harlan and Letcher counties at elevations over 3,400 feet above sea level. Smallareas occur scattered on the high north slopes of other nearby mountains.Reasons for Protection Status: This community occupies a very limited area in Kentucky. High-quality examples are extremely raredue to destruction by extensive mining, logging, oil and gas drilling, and road and power line rights of way.

In the spotlight: Kentucky’s rare species and communities

Photo by Marc Evans, KSNPC

Land, Air & Water

• Create a defensible space around the home by keepingflammable vegetation and leaves at least 30 feet away. Keepleaves raked, and limbs and branches picked up.• Remove flammable materials and leaves from roofs andgutters and around liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks.• Cover attic vent openings with small-gauge wire to keepsparks out.• Enclose decks to prevent the accumulation of leaves anddebris.• Box in eaves.• Trim trees of dead and overhanging limbs within 10 feet ofa chimney or stovepipe.• Stack wood at least 30 feet away from the house and drapeit with a nonflammable cover.• Develop a fire emergency plan and discuss what actionswill be necessary to ensure the safety of your family.• Ensure that the address of the home is clearly marked soemergency personnel can locate the property.

Firewise practices: simple steps homeowners cantake to reduce wildland fire risks

18

State forestry officials are having flashbacks of a fall forestfire season that they would soon like to forget. Droughtconditions, similar to those we are presently experiencing,

occurred in 1999 and contributed to three consecutive years ofserious forest fire hazard seasons.

Beginning in thefall of 1999 andcontinuing through thefall of 2001, theKentucky Division ofForestry (KDF) battledover 6,000 fires thatscorched more than450,000 acres. Thosethree years marked theworst time for wildfiresin Kentucky in the pastdecade, costing thestate over $10 million.

The division met inAugust to beginplanning for anotherworst-case scenario.The meeting focusedon essential equipmentneeds, hiring andtraining of newfirefighters, fireprevention educationand additional resourceneeds. If the currentdrought conditionscontinue into fall, thedivision will likely callupon additionalresources such as theKentucky NationalGuard and firefightersfrom other state andfederal forestryagencies.

“We have providedseveral fire crews toother states this year,and in turn these statesand others have assuredus that they will returnthe favor if their fire

conditions have improved,” said KDF Director Leah MacSwords.“We are anticipating a serious fire season and are planningaccordingly.”

Division employees will be meeting with local officials, fire

departments and media to increase awareness of the upcomingfire season. Fire prevention education teams are also scheduled towork in several counties where wildfires are expected to be themost serious. These teams will be made up of staff from theDivision of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service and possibly employeesfrom other state forestry agencies.

What causes wildfires in Kentucky?Sadly, wildland arson remains the leading cause of wildfires,

but during severe drought conditions KDF sees an increase inaccidental fires. Some of these fires are started in unusual ways.

“We see fires caused by farm and construction equipment,sparks from railroads, catalytic converters, electric fences andimproperly disposed cigarettes. Under normal weather conditionswe would rarely see a fire caused by any of these sources,” saidMacSwords.

To combat wildland arson fires, the division will be workingwith local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as otherstate agencies, to increase patrols of areas where suspected arsonfires are occurring. Citizens can anonymously report suspectedarsonists by calling the Target Arson Hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON. Citizens providing tips that lead to an arrest andindictment are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

The Division of Forestry prepares communitiesHundreds of communities across the commonwealth are

located in areas where homes and forestlands meet, known as thewildland urban interface (WUI). Living in WUI areas places

Forestry officials plan for the worst, ask for helpBy Gwen Holt

Division of Forestry

Continued on Page 19

TOP: This home is built in a wildlandurban interface. Leaves and twigs shouldbe kept at least 30 feet away from thestructure.ABOVE: This deck is open construction,which can lead to buildup of leaves anddebris, posing a fire hazard.Photos by the Division of Forestry

Land, Air & Water 19

Kentuckians brought in 311,630 tires during the spring tire amnesty programbringing the total to 16.5 million passenger tire equivalents collected by the Division ofWaste Management during amnesties and other cleanups since 1998.

Tire amnesties are a free service offered by the division with assistance from countygovernments and the Transportation Cabinet. Waste tires are collected and recycledthrough “beneficial end use” markets to become products such as tire-derived fuel orcrumb rubber mulch.

The Waste Tire Amnesty Program is financed by the Waste Tire Trust Fund, autho-rized by the 1998 General Assembly and extended in 2002 and again in 2006. Moneycomes from a $1 fee on each new replacement motor vehicle tire sold.

An estimated 4 million scrap tires are generated each year in Kentucky and must bemanaged properly to avoid the risk of fire and to prevent water entrapment and mosquitoinfestations.

You can get information on upcoming events by going online to http://www.waste.ky.gov/branches/rla/Tire+Amnesty.htm or calling 502-564-6716.

Tire collection total is 16.5 millionBy Eva Smith-CarrollDivision of Waste Management

communities at a higher risk for wildfiredamage. In recent years, more homes arebeing built in WUI areas, increasing thenumber of communities at risk statewide.

Continuing drought conditions, aheavy build up of fuel in Kentucky’sforests and a shortage of experiencedwildland firefighters have resulted in thedivision issuing a cry for help from fire-prone communities.

“We need local citizens and communi-ties to take preventative steps to protecttheir property,” said MacSwords.

One way to do this is to implementfirewise practices. Firewise is a nationalprogram that educates communities andhomeowners about reducing wildland firerisks.

Firewise USA communitiesThere are 12 certified Firewise USA

communities in Kentucky. Communityleaders, fire departments, local citizensand business owners join together toreduce wildfire risks in their area.

Many communities received assis-tance through the Kentucky Firewise GrantProgram, which provides funding forcommunitywide risk assessments, develop-ment of community wildfire protectionplans, fuel mitigation and Firewiseeducational activities. This year, grantrecipients will receive $292,499. The nextgrant period will be spring 2008.

For more information about theKentucky Firewise Program visit http://www.forestry.ky.gov/programs/firewise/or visit the national Firewise Web site atwww.firewise.org.

Forestry officials plan forthe worst, ask for helpContinued from Page 18

Kentucky Firewise USA communitiesCunningham – Carlisle Co.Bardwell – Carlisle Co.Poplar Springs – Adair Co.Hickory-Hill Laurel Trace – McCreary Co.Haldeman Heights – Rowan Co.Hilltop Estates – Rowan Co.Lake Lewman – Rowan Co.Harlan – Harlan Co.Greensburg – Green Co.Exie – Green Co.Grab – Green Co.Route 504 – Elliott Co.

Last year the Kentucky Brownfield Program sponsored events that aided communi-ties in their quest to obtain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brownfieldgrants. Those efforts paid off, and the state received $1.4 million dollars in EPA grantsfor brownfield projects in Louisville and Frankfort.

The program is continuing its educational endeavors with the aid of KY EXCELmember, Malcolm Pirnie Inc. KY EXCEL is an environmental leadership program inwhich individuals, companies and organizations undertake projects to help improveKentucky’s environment. Malcolm Pirnie partnered with the Kentucky BrownfieldProgram to host three grant writing workshops across the state. Frankfort, Owensboroand Prestonsburg played host to the events, and more than 50 people attended thesessions that covered brownfield basics and strategies for successful grant authorship.

Malcolm Pirnie has helped to author and implement more than 25 U.S. EPAbrownfield grants for communities nationwide. Betsy Bowe, of Malcolm Pirnie, taughtthe grant writing portion of the event. With her extensive experience in grant writing,Bowe helped to author $2 million in grants last year for applicants in the communities ofLorain, Barberton and Sandusky in Ohio, and Tuscola County and Eaton County inMichigan. Each community received $400,000 in federal funding for brownfieldsassessment.

“Our overall goal of the workshop was to provide potential grant applicants with allof the tools they might need to author a grant from start to finish,” said Bowe. “Weoffered examples from various grant applications—from a small rural community to alarge industrial community—to help applicants see that answering questions and obtain-ing as many points as possible in a very competitive process is achievable no matter thesize of their community or their previous grant writing experiences. We are hopeful thatmany of the workshop attendees will want to apply for grant funds to start brownfieldprograms in their communities.”

For more information, contact Amanda LeFevre at 502-564-0323.

Workshops seek to continue brownfieldgrant successBy Amanda LeFevreDivision of Compliance Assistance

Land, Air & Water20

The Environmental QualityCommission (EQC) is seeking nomina-tions for its 2008 Earth Day awards.Persons or entities that display anoutstanding commitment to Kentucky’senvironment are eligible. The nomina-tion form is available on the EQC’sWeb site at www.eqc.ky.gov or contactJohnna McHugh by e-mail atJohnna.McHugh@ky.gov or by phone502-564-3410, ext. 194. The deadlinefor nomination receipt is Dec. 14,2007. Nominations can be sentelectronically to McHugh or mailed to14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601.The EQC Earth Day awards ceremonywill be April 18, 2008, at Berry HillMansion in Frankfort.

EQC seeks Earth Daynominations

Leah MacSwords, state forester anddirector of the Kentucky Division ofForestry (KDF), was recently elected vicepresident of the National Association ofState Foresters (NASF).

MacSwords is the first woman andfirst Kentuckian to be elected to the vicepresident’s position in the organization’s87-year history. She previously served asthe organization’s treasurer.

NASF is a nonprofit organization thatrepresents all 50 state forestry agencies,eight U.S. territories (American Samoa,the federated states of Micronesia, Guam,the Northern Marianas Islands, Palau,Puerto Rico, Republic of the MarshallIslands and the U.S. Virgin Islands) andthe District of Columbia. Through public-private partnerships, NASF develops,sponsors and promotes programs thatadvance the practice of sustainableforestry, the conservation and protection offorest lands and associated resources, andthe establishment and protection of forestsin the urban environment.

MacSwords named second in commandBy Gwen HoltDivision of Forestry

Photo provided by the Division of Forestry

Storm water erosion prevention andsediment control training available

MacSwords will serve on the NASFexecutive committee, which acts on behalfof the association between annual meet-ings, prepare long-range plans, and setgoals and objectives each year. She alsowill serve on the Budget and BusinessCommittee, which oversees internaloperational controls and finances.

“My goal is to ensure that NASFcontinues to provide a reliable, responsiblevoice on overall domestic and interna-tional forest policy and to spread themessage about the environmental andsocial benefits provided by trees andforests to all our citizens,” saidMacSwords.

Two important issues remain apriority for NASF—that it continueworking with the USDA Forest Service onits redesign of state and private forestryprograms to ensure states are treated fairly,that they have access to equal funding, andthat its members receive guidance throughimplementation of the Farm Bill provi-sions and state assessments. NASF will

also continue spreading the message thatforests play a vital role in addressingglobal climate change and serving as anenergy source.

MacSwords is a woman of manyfirsts. She is the first female director in the95-year history of the Division of Forestry.She joined the Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection Cabinet (nowthe Environmental and Public ProtectionCabinet) in 1985 where her primaryresponsibilities were in the areas ofenvironmental protection. In 1997, shewas appointed deputy commissioner of theDepartment for Natural Resources. InJune 2001, she became division directorand state forester.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is offering one-day training sessions aroundthe state designed to qualify individuals in the inspection of erosion and sediment controlon construction sites to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental permitrequirements.

The Kentucky Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (KEPSC) training is co-sponsored by the University of Kentucky Transportation Center, the Kentucky HighwayContractors Association and the Kentucky Homebuilders Association. The goal is toprovide a basic understanding of the terms and conditions of the Kentucky PollutantDischarge Elimination System (KPDES) general permit for construction sites.

The language of the KPDES permit states that all storm water erosion preventionmeasures must be inspected by a qualified inspector. The training is designed to producequalified inspectors who are knowledgeable about inspection procedures and permitrequirements.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recognizes the importance of erosion controlon our highway projects,” said Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert. He said the goalof the program is to build a highway infrastructure that benefits the state’s economywhile preserving the natural environment.

Bob Weiss, executive director of the Homebuilders Association of Kentucky, saidhomeowners and building contractors will greatly benefit from the KEPSC training. “Weare endorsing a new program to train our contractors how to inspect and comply withU.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules that protect Kentucky’s streams,” he said.

For more information about KEPSC, a schedule of dates and locations and toregister online, visit www.ky12.com or call 1-800-432-0719.

A flotilla of ski boats, pontoons and skiffs gathered July 14 inan early morning mist at the Clifton boat dock in WoodfordCounty. The sun was burning through the fog as 48 volunteersboarded 13 boats in search of litter and debris on the banks of theKentucky River.

“This is a great turnout,” said Nola Boggs Server, WoodfordCounty community resource coordinator and local river sweeporganizer. “With all these volunteers, we’ll get a lot accomplishedtoday.”

Nearby was a dump truck with “Tom Rankin BackhoeService” painted on the driver’s-side door. As long as LindseyRankin, 24, can remember, her family has participated in theriverbank cleanup.

“I grew up on the river in Clifton, and this is what we do,”said the recent college graduate. “We love the river and want totake care of it. Hopefully other people will take a lesson from ouractions. So much of what we’ll find today could easily have beentaken to the county dump or the recycling center.”

The volunteers were part of a six-state effort to clean upmore than 3,000 miles of shoreline along the Ohio, Kentucky,Allegheny, Monongahela and Beaver rivers—all in one day. Thecampaign was begun in 1989 by the Ohio River Valley WaterSanitation Commission (ORSANCO) to draw attention to theexisting litter problem and foster greater environmental concern.In 1997, the Kentucky River Authority and ORSANCO becamepartners in a joint effort to clean up the riverbanks.

Volunteers make clean sweep of riverBy Allison FleckDivision of Water

This year nearly1,000 volunteers in 22Kentucky countiescollected 1,500 poundsof recyclable material,7,400 pounds of trashand filled four 30-yarddumpsters.

At the Clifton boatdock, Tom Rankin’sdump truck slowlyfilled with tangled websof barbed wire, bags ofcans and bottles, mud-filled tires and rustedmetal parts. Largeitems included ababy bed, a homewater heater, a mangled grill and a bed liner for a pickup truck.

“You find everything out here,” said Jay Wigglesworth, alongtime resident of Clifton. “Last year was a big tire year.People think ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ We have to change thatmentality.”

For more information about the river sweep, call the Ken-tucky River Authority at 502-564-2866.

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A participant hauls trash to the Cliftonbock dock during the river sweep event.Photo by Allison Fleck