Environmental Watchdog

Rain Delays Corn Planting in Kentucky

Chuck Stinnett and The Kentucky Enquirer — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:52 +0000

Persistent precipitation continues to stymie Kentucky farmers’ efforts to plant their 2013 corn and soybean crops. As of Sunday, just 39 percent of the state’s corn crop had been planted, barely half the pace of the five-year average and far behind last year, when corn planting was nearly finished, according to the USDA’s Agricultural Statistics Service’s Louisville field office. Just 23 percent of corn plants have emerged so far; normally, half the corn is out of the ground by now. Read more...

Further Declines in Coal Production, Demand Predicted

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:09:05 +0000

A new report takes a comprehensive look at the numerous factors behind the decline in Central Appalachian coal production, and predicts that more production declines are in the future. The report was released today byDownstream Strategies, a West Virginia-based environmental consulting company. Lead author Rory McIlmoil says over the past few years, the most commonly-cited reasons for problems in the coal industry have been regulatory challenges and declining coal reserves. And while those play a major role, there are other factors, too. Read more...

Data show Decade-Long Increase in CO2 Emissions

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:20:31 +0000

New state-level data from the Energy Information Administration shows that carbon dioxide emissions fell in most states in the last decade. But Kentucky saw a slight increase in emissions. Thirteen years ago, Kentucky was emitting 144.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, generated during electricity generation. Ten years later, that number was up to about 150 million metric tons. That’s more than a four percent increase.

Cold Front Could Bring Frost by Next Week

Jim Warren and Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:24:54 +0000

Keep your coats and hats handy. We could see temperatures in the 30s by next week, weather forecasters warn. WKYT-TV chief meteorologist Chris Bailey says it will get warmer gradually this week, possibly, reaching the 70s by Wednesday, with chances of showers or thunderstorms almost daily. But the bottom might fall out this weekend.

Analysis Shows CO2 Reductions if Current Energy Laws Stay in Place

Louisville Public Media — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:51:18 +0000

Tax credits for renewable energy are set to expire, but a new study shows that current energy policies, if they're kept in place, would reduce carbon dioxide emissions over the next thirty years. The Energy Information Administration is an arm of the federal government, but is policy neutral. This means they don’t advocate for certain policies; they just crunch the numbers.

Ag's Impact on Environment Under Study

Stu Johnson, WEKU and st — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:59:10 +0000

Even locally-grown and organic produce impact the environment. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are working up a method for measuring those impacts. U-K Sustainable Agriculture Extension Specialist Lee Meyer says they want to fully understand farming’s impact on the quality of air, soil and water quality.

Rain is Likely on Kentucky Derby Day

Louisville Public Media — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:09:22 +0000

Heading to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday? Be prepared to be rained on. Louisville has a 90 percent chance of rain showers on Saturday—part of a system that may drop as much as two inches of precipitation on the city through the weekend, the National Weather Service said.

Two Southern Indiana Landmarks on Endangered List

Louisville Public Media — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:28:25 +0000

Two southern Indiana sites are on the latest list of the state’s Most Endangered Places, compiled by the preservation group Indiana Landmarks. One of the places, the Old Clarksville Site, is a holdover from last year. The nearly 300 acre site along the Ohio River includes remnants of pre-historic settlements, and the spot where Lewis and Clark launched their expedition of the western U.S. in 1803.

Scientists Call For Moratorium on Mountaintop Removal Mining

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:16:21 +0000

Call it a battle of the researchers. Scientists who have both affirmed and denied connections between mountaintop removal coal mining and serious health problems have intensified their efforts to bring public attention to their work recently. Today, a commission of scientists released an analysis of some of the recent research, and concluded that there should be a moratorium on mountaintop removal.

Rain and Colder Temperatures on the Way

Kentucky Press News Service — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:54:31 +0000

A cold front will invade parts of Kentucky tonight and Wednesday - possibly producing thunderstorms. The biggest chance for thunderstorms will be in Central Kentucky late tonight and early Wednesday. Severe storms are not expected, according to the National Weather Service office in Louisville, but gusty winds are possible, particularly east of Interstate 65.

LG&E, Charah Partner to Create New Agriculture Pellet from Coal Byproduct

Kenny Colston, KPR-Frankfort — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:31:26 +0000

A partnership between LG&E and KU and a Kentucky company could help both the energy and agriculture sectors, Kentucky leaders announced Monday. Kentucky company Charah is opening up a facility in Louisville that will take leftover gypsum from the Mill Creek Power Station and turn it into a sulfur product—such as fertilizers—for Kentucky farmers.

Court Rules Army Corps' Streamlined Coal Mining Permit Doesn't Protect Environment

Louisville Public Media — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:29:09 +0000

An appeals court has ruled in favor of environmental groups that argued the streamlined permit the government used to permit mountaintop removal mines wasn’t protective of the environment. The decision was issued today by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Pikeville. It finds that the U.S. Army Corps’ issuance of the streamlined “Nationwide 21” permit is in violation of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

New Clean Water Technology Will Be Tested in Louisville

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:41:07 +0000

A new nanotechnology to clean up contaminated water will soon be tested in Louisville. It will use two precious metals—gold and palladium—to remove chloroform from contaminated groundwater at the DuPont plant in Rubbertown. Nanotechnology is a term that refers to materials made in a lab that manipulate chemicals at an atomic level. They’re smaller than a red blood cell, hence “nano.”

Illegal Burning Can be Unhealthy, Dangerous

The Kentucky Enquirer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:43:54 +0000

Spring-cleaning season has arrived, and for many Kentuckians that means burning unwanted debris. The Kentucky Division for Air Quality reminds residents to learn before you burn. Illegal burning could result in fines of as much as $25,000 per day per violation. Many people may not realize that burning trash is illegal in Kentucky. State law prohibits the burning of many materials including plastic, tires, cans, coated wire, carpeting and food waste. In addition, the burning of trailers, buildings, and construction and demolition debris such as shingles, drywall and insulation is prohibited.

Study Finds Most Coal-Fired Power Plants Can't Compete Against Natural Gas

Louisville Public Media — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:33:30 +0000

A new study estimates that 65 percent of current coal-fired power plants won’t be economical to run in the near future. It’s been a common refrain when reporting on the coal industry: the fuel isn’t as competitive as it used to be because of low natural gas prices and increased environmental regulations. But the new study by researchers at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment quantifies the effects of natural gas and government regulations on the coal industry.

Forest Fires Burn Across Pike County

Chris Anderson, The Appalachian News-Express — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:19:51 +0000

As several fires continue to burn in wooded areas across Pike County on Thursday, forestry officials said the fires are now under control. According to Tad Norris, the district forester for the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s Eastern District, three woodland fires were burning in Pike County Thursday in areas near Grapevine, Dorton and Elkhorn City. Norris said the fires have been brought under control and have been contained.

Severe Weather Expected on Thursday

Kentucky Press News Service — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:05:04 +0000

Thunderstorms are predicted this afternoon for southern Indiana. Those storms will slowly drift southward. In the meantime, a strong storm system in the Plains will move into the western Ohio Valley tonight. Rain, thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging winds, are likely tonight in Kentucky - particularly in areas west of Interstate 65, the National Weather Service office in Louisville said.

Legislative Committee Advances New Selenium Regulations

Louisville Public Media — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:02:40 +0000

The Kentucky Administrative Regulation Review Committee has advanced new rules proposed by the state Energy and Environment Cabinet to regulate the levels of selenium in Kentucky waterways. The state says the new regulations are a necessary update, and will adequately protect the environment and aquatic species; but environmental groups have raised serious concerns and say the proposal doesn't comply with the federal Clean Water Act and is unenforceable.

March 2013 in Kentucky One of the Coldest on Record

Kentucky Press News Service — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:37:16 +0000

Following a record warm March in 2012, a persistent pattern of wintry weather across Kentucky left March 2013 as one of the coldest on record. The statewide average temperature for March based on the Kentucky Mesonet, the Commonwealth’s official source of climatological observations, was 39.8 degrees while the statewide average temperature for March 2012 was 57.9 degrees, according to Stuart Foster, state climatologist and director of the Kentucky Mesonet.

EPA Will Assess Some Flame Retardant Chemicals for Potential Human Health Effects

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:35:00 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to assess 23 commonly-used chemicals—including 20 flame retardants—for their potential effects on human health and the environment. The study will also include an analysis of how several of those flame retardants behave in the environment…like whether they bioaccumulate in humans or can be absorbed into the body with a certain type of exposure.

Poll Shows Louisville Residents are More Concerned About Air Quality Than Other Kentuckians

Louisville Public Media — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:12:02 +0000

A new poll shows that Louisville residents are more concerned about air quality than those living in other areas of the state. In a poll conducted by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky in October, nearly three-quarters of the Louisville residents surveyed said they were either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the local air quality. Those numbers were much lower—between 40.3 percent and 48.7 percent—for residents in other regions of the state.

Winter Hangs on in Kentucky

Jim Warren and Lexington Herald-Leader — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:20:40 +0000

Winter just isn't ready to let go yet, as Lexingtonians learned when they awoke Monday morning and found the city decorated in white. Snow with additional accumulation is expected to continue Tuesday morning, with low temperatures to go with it. That's quite a change from this time last year.

Most of Kentucky Will See Snow This Evening

Kentucky Press News Service — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:40:48 +0000

Most of Kentucky will see snow this evening but amounts will vary widely. A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m. CDT today for Western Kentucky. Snow will generally accumulate about an inch, the National Weather Service Paducah office said. Major travel issues are not expected, the weather service said, but winds will be gusty at times.

Leading Conservation Scientist to Speak at U of L

Louisville Public Media — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:35:49 +0000

A leading conservation scientist will speak at the University of Louisville tomorrow about the ways the environmental movement can better tackle subjects like climate change. M. Sanjayan is the Nature Conservancy’s lead scientist and a wildlife research professor. He says today, the relationship between people and nature is symbiotic. The planet isn’t pure and pristine anymore—instead, it’s been shaped by more than 20,000 years of human habitation. Sanjayan says it’s important to see humans as part of the solution to fixing the earth’s environmental problems.

Rain Will Change to Snow Late Today

Kentucky Press News Service — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:16:55 +0000

Rain will change over to snow late today and continue into Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible for Central Kentucky. Cities in the impacted area include Hawesville, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Bedford, Shelbyville, Frankfort, Georgetown, Lexington, Carlisle, Bardstown, Nicholasville and Winchester, according to the NWS office in Louisville.

Winter Storm Heads Our Way Later this Weekend

Lexington Herald-Leader — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:10:02 +0000

Old Man Winter refuses to cut us any slack and is now threatening to throw more snow our way later this weekend. That will be associated with a big winter storm taking aim at the Ohio Valley Sunday and Monday. Guess what comes in behind that? If you said more cold and snow showers, you are a winner!

Energy Efficiency Saves Money, Teaches Lessons at Kentucky School

Louisville Public Media — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:43:39 +0000

Kentucky’s utility rates are among the lowest in the nation. But even so, several public school districts have found that it still pays to build energy efficient schools. One such school in Warren County has taken efficiency even further, and is now generating more energy than the building uses.

Capitol Lights Will Go Dark Saturday in Support of Earth Hour

Kentucky Press News Service — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:17:21 +0000

Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear announce that the Capitol campus will go dark this Saturday in support of “Earth Hour,” an international environmental campaign sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Kentucky Denies Permit for Coal Ash Landfill At Trimble County Power Plant

Louisville Public Media — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:19:13 +0000

The Kentucky Division of Waste Management has denied a pending permit for a coal ash landfill in Trimble County. The proposed landfill would have been 218 acres, near Louisville Gas and Electric’s Trimble County Power Station. It was meant to store the coal ash produced by the plant, but ever since it was first proposed, the project has encountered numerous problems.

Study Shows Illness More Likely in Coal Counties

Louisville Public Media — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:28:50 +0000

A new health study in Eastern Kentucky has found that residents in a county where surface mining is prevalent have a higher instance of illness than residents in two control counties. West Virginia University professor Michael Hendryx analyzed information from 952 adults in Eastern Kentucky.