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Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Both short- and long-term particle pollution exposure is associated with increased mortality from heart disease, lung disease and lung cancer according to the American Lung Association. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Critics: KY regional haze plan doesn’t protect environmental, public health

Under the federal Clean Air Act, Kentucky is required to keep haze air pollution under control in Mammoth Cave National Park. Critics said the …

One Environmental Working Group study found a majority of Americans' drinking-water supply contains PFAS or

EPA’s New PFAS Standards Could Overhaul Kentucky's Drinking Water

Kentucky cities and towns could soon start ramping up water monitoring for PFAS chemicals in response to the latest nationwide limits proposed by the …

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Spencer Bruce, CEO of Louisville Water Co., appear in a video statement telling residents the water is safe to drink. (City of Louisville/Twitter)

Louisville Mayor Calls KY Tap Water Safe to Drink; Residents Skeptical

A chemical plume that has so far killed more than 3,500 fish in streams around East Palestine, Ohio, has seeped into the Ohio River, leaving …

Research from 2015 revealed a federal estimate of more than 48,000 abandoned coal mine sites across the nation, but exact numbers remain unclear. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Possible Link Between Flood Risk, Abandoned Mine Land Brings Urgency to Reclamation Efforts

The impact of abandoned mine land on flood risk is receiving new scrutiny after devastating floods in the eastern part of the state left 40 people dea…

A 2021 study by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found financial conflicts of interest among doctors reviewing the chest X-rays of coal miners who filed workers' compensation claims. (Adobe Stock)

Stalled Bill Leaves Coal Miners Uncertain on Future of Black Lung Benefits

Thousands of coal miners and their families are uncertain about the future of the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. At the end of last year…

Kentucky has a backlog of more than 1,000 abandoned mine land sites that qualify for federal assistance for cleanup. (Adobe Stock)

Looming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food, citing specific risks to children and farmworkers. (Adobe Stock)

EPA’s Chlorpyrifos Ban Spotlights Future of Agricultural Pesticide Use

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Experts say most agriculture producers in Kentucky won't be affected by the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to ban …

The drinking-water supply for an estimated 200 million Americans is likely contaminated with forever chemicals known as PFAS, according to the Environmental Working Group. (Adobe Stock)

KY Advocates Say ‘Forever Chemicals' Pose Health Risk

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is slated to receive $75 million to jumpstart toxicity studies of industrial chemicals …

It's estimated the United States is saddled with around $11.4 billion in costs to clean up abandoned coal mine sites nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Spurs Renewed Abandoned-Mine Cleanup Efforts

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- This week, state officials announced the start of several new grant-funded, abandoned-mine land projects in Eastern Kentucky…

Population growth often drives excess nutrient pollution, which triggers toxic algae blooms in the Ohio River and in waterways across the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Activists Call on New EPA to Regulate Ohio River Pollution

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Sierra Club is petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create nutrient standards for the Ohio River, on which …

Researchers have found alarming numbers of young fish in Herrington Lake with spinal and craniofacial deformities, telltale signs of coal-ash contamination. (Joshinatorky/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Public Hearing on Kentucky Utilities’ Coal Ash Cleanup Plan

HARRODSBURG, Ky. -- Critics say a plan developed by Kentucky Utilities to address groundwater pollution from an unlined coal-ash pond seeping into …

Chemicals called PFAs, known as emerging contaminants, were detected in 81 municipal water treatment plants in Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Toxic Chemicals Known as PFAS Detected in KY Drinking Water

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Chemicals called PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been found in Kentucky's drinking water. Known as …

According to a new report, 91 percent of U.S. coal-fired power plants are contaminating nearby groundwater with unsafe levels of toxic pollutants. (Jellybeens4/Twenty20)

KY Groundwater Pollution from Coal Ash Among Worst in U.S.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A power plant outside of Louisville ranks among the top 10 most polluted in the country for groundwater contamination by coal …

Airborne micro-particles from surface mining are believed to be linked to a variety of health problems. (@F51C/Twenty20)

Congress Questions Cancellation of Surface Mining Health Study

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Democratic lawmakers are probing the reasons why a National Academy of Sciences study on the health effects of surface coal …

The deepest point of the Ohio River runs through Louisville, Ky. (William Aden/Flickr)

Kentuckians Defend Ohio River Quality Standards

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A long-awaited vote is expected this week on the future of water-quality standards that impact nearly two-thirds of Kentucky's …

Thousands of oil-covered birds had to be rehabilitated after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. (MacKenzie/US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Groups Press Feds to Uphold Bird Protections

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Migratory Bird Treaty Act turns 100 this week, leading conservation groups to dub 2018 the "Year of the Bird" – and …

Experts say even child-resistant pill bottles should be kept far away from a little one's reach. (DodgertonSkillhause/Morguefile)

Every 12 Days, a Child Dies from Accidental Poisoning

FRANKFORT, Ky. – March is Poison Prevention Month, and this week, through Saturday, is National Poison Prevention Week. Accidental medicine …

Researchers say when considering air-quality standards, it's important to know the air pollution impacts of the products we use in our everyday lives. (Jon Seidman/Flickr)

Are Household Chemicals Poisoning the Air We Breathe?

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Because cars are now dramatically cleaner than they used to be, products such as skin lotions and indoor cleaners are becoming …

Researchers found that when oil prices are down, tax breaks prop up returns for fossil-fuel investors. (Pixabay)

Oil Industry Tax Breaks Hindering Climate Goals

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- As Washington grapples with rebooting the nation's tax code, a new report makes a compelling argument for eliminating tax breaks …

Coal is burned to provide most of Kentucky's energy, but the call for sustainable sources is mounting. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Revving Up Renewables in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With Kentucky lagging behind most states in the production of sustainable energy, the Sierra Club is making a push at the …

Bees are important pollinators, but in the past year, bee populations nationwide have dropped by one-third. (USDA)

EPA is Asked to Rethink Effects of Pesticides on Bees

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Today is the final day for the public to comment on an updated assessment of four pesticides that environmental and food-…

Support for groups that fight for clean air and water, and other conservation concerns, has grown among Kentuckians since the 2016 election. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Uptick in Support for Kentucky Environmental Groups

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky's signature conservation groups are reporting an uptick in membership, fund-raising and volunteerism. The increased …

A grassroots organization has released an in-depth plan that projects that a move to cleaner energy in Kentucky would lower electric rates and grow jobs. (KU)

People's Energy Plan for Kentucky Proposed

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Saying a transition to clean energy is an opportunity for Kentucky, not a burden, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth has …

National security experts say the Trump administration's attack on the Clean Power Plan could ultimately put U.S. military facilities at risk. (Dept.of Defense)

Security Experts Raise Concerns Over Ditching Clean Power Plan

FRANKFORT, Ky. – As President Donald Trump seeks to roll back programs that help slow climate change, national security experts say it could …

Warren County Public Schools have had a tobacco free policy in place for two years. Now, lawmakers are considering a statewide rule. (Warren County Public Schools)

Schools Have Tobacco Free Lesson for Legislature

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – While legislation is moving through the General Assembly to make all public schools in the Bluegrass State tobacco free…

Conservationists are fighting back against attempts to gut new regulations that attempt to stop future pollution of streams such as this one that spills into the Kentucky River. (Tarence Ray)

Stream-Protection Rule Flows into Legal Battle

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A coalition of community and conservation groups is fighting back against attempts by state officials in Kentucky and 13 other …

A new report finds Kentucky is spending very little of its tobacco revenue on preventing smoking. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Tobacco Industry Marketing Blows Away What KY Spends on Smoking Prevention

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A new report said Kentucky will collect $361 million this fiscal year in tobacco revenue from taxes and the annual payout from …

An opponent of a plan to re-purpose a natural gas pipeline which crosses through Kentucky shows a group of citizens the pipe's path in one neighborhood. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Pipeline Regulator Accused of Being Cozy With the Industry

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A spate of proposed gas pipeline projects, including one in Kentucky, is bringing sharp criticism that the federal permitting …

One important decision awaiting President-elect Donald Trump is what to do with rules intended to reduce carbon pollution and slow climate change. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Can Trump Hit Brake on Climate Change Regulations?

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In Kentucky, where the coal industry and political leaders rail against the Obama administration's air pollution limits…

Paint and other potentially hazardous products should never be disposed of down a drain or in a trash can. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Fall Cleaning: Don't Dump, Drop Off

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It won't be long before people across the Bluegrass State put away their lawnmowers for the year. Waste-management experts say …

Using money from the Abandoned Mining Lands Fund to spur economic development in Appalachia has overwhelming support in the region, according to a new poll. (Vivian Stockman, flyover credit SouthWings)

Poll: Strong Support Across Appalachia for RECLAIM Act

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A new Sierra Club poll shows nearly nine out of every ten people living in Appalachia support a Kentucky congressman's plan to …

A plan for a transition to a clean energy economy in Kentucky is to be unveiled Saturday. (MACED)

People's Plan for Kentucky's Energy Future

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With climate change being addressed globally, a grassroots organization in Kentucky is making a concerted effort to get the …

A new poll shows young Republican voters strongly favor shifting to cleaner forms of energy. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Poll: Most Young GOP Voters View Climate Change as Serious Issue

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Young conservatives overwhelmingly feel man-made climate change is a real problem, according to a new national poll. These GOP …

A new study finds commercial owners and occupants nationwide could realize billions of dollars in annual savings on their electric bills by implementing the Clean Power Plan. (Kentucky Utilities)

Path to Clean Power Could Lead to Commercial Energy Savings

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new study finds that if states implement the Clean Power Plan, energy savings would be greatest in retail and office buildings and …

$Documents show low level radioactive waste was dumped into a Kentucky landfill from fracking operations in Ohio and West Virginia. (Sierra Club)$

Documents Show Loopholes, Questionable Business Practices Create KY Fracking Waste Problem

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Behind the low level radioactive waste dumped in a Kentucky landfill are regulatory loopholes and questionable business …

$The controversy over waste illegally dumped in a Kentucky landfill from out-of-state fracking operations has made its way to a legislative committee hearing in Frankfort. (Sierra Club)$

Fallout from Unauthorized Dumping of Fracking Waste in KY

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The fallout continues from the unauthorized dumping of fracking waste from West Virginia into a Kentucky landfill. Nearly 2,000 …

The disposal of low-level radioactive waste derived from Marcellus and Utica shale in Kentucky landfills is raising red flags. (EPA)

Red Flags Raised Over Radioactive Frack Waste Company

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The paper trail of a company that dumped West Virginia radioactive frack waste into Kentucky landfills is raising serious questions…

A map generated by Earthworks shows more than 151,000 Kentuckians live in the threat radius of oil and gas drilling operations. (Earthworks)

Map Shows Toxic Risks in KY From Oil and Gas Operations

FRANKFORT, Ky. - More than 151,000 Kentuckians live near an active oil or gas operation, what the environmental organization Earthworks, said is …

Support is strong in all geographic regions of Kentucky for a statewide smoke-free law according to the latest poll data. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Poll Finds Strong Support for Smoke-Free Policies Across Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Policies that lead to decreased smoking rates are now garnering strong support in all five regions of the Bluegrass State, …

KU and LG&E want to place a rate surcharge on the bills of their electric customers to help clean and cap coal-ash ponds at power plants such as this one. (Alex DeSha)

Power Companies Seek Surcharges to Help with Coal-ash Cleanup Costs

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Sister power companies, KU and LG&E want their customers to help pay for compliance with new federal environmental rules. The …

Honeybee colonies in the United States declined dramatically last year, and advocates say that's not sustainable for agriculture. (USDA)

Trend of Fewer Bees in U.S. Continues

FRANKFORT, Ky. - U.S. beekeepers have reported losing 44 percent of their colonies over the last year, according to a new annual report. Tiffany …

An audit commissioned by Reynolds American identifies instances of minors working in unsafe conditions on contracted tobacco farms across the south, including in Kentucky. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Audit Finds Children Working in Tobacco Fields

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Children are working on tobacco farms - some of them, in hazardous conditions. That's one of the findings of an audit commissioned …

The EPA has finalized an analysis that says reducing hazardous air pollution has enormous health benefits. (Greg Stotelmyer)

EPA Reaffirms Health Benefits in Reducing Toxic Air Pollution

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Environmental Protection Agency has reconfirmed its initial claim that reducing emissions of mercury and other toxic substances …

Ideas for Kentucky's transition to a clean-energy economy are gathered at a public forum in Lexington. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Grassroots Ideas on Kentucky's Energy Future

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Listening to the voices of Kentuckians about the Bluegrass State's energy future is the idea behind a series of six dinner …

Red flags signal opposition to a proposed natural gas liquids pipeline project in Kentucky. (KFTC)

Opposition to Pipeline Project Popular Earth Day Theme in KY

MARION COUNTY, Ky. – Kentuckians opposed to re-purposing a pipeline to transport natural gas liquids are using Earth Day this week as a …

The Russell Fork River, an outdoor gem on the Kentucky-Virginia border, is on a list of America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2016. (Steve Ruth)

Tourism, Mining and a River: Kentucky's Tightrope Walk

ELKHORN CITY, Ky. - The Russell Fork River, which carves a spectacular 52-mile path along the Kentucky-Virginia border, has landed on the list of …

A new report outlines what climate change has in store for human health in the United States. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Report Highlights Health Concerns from Climate Change

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new report released by the White House outlines what climate change has in store for human health in the United States. Drawing …

Environmental activism is flourishing in Kentucky's communities of nuns, a commitment the sisters describe as a sacred trust. (Laura Michele Diener)

"A Sacred Trust" - Nuns and Kentucky's Land

MARION COUNTY, Ky. - Environmental activism is flourishing in communities of Roman Catholic nuns stretching from the Bluegrass to Appalachia…

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KY: Toxics