Public News Service

The latest version of the Farm Bill would incorporate precision agriculture technologies into water conservation and irrigation efficiency practices, incentive contracts, and conservation innovation grants, according to the National Agriculture Law Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Stalled Farm Bill could see Conservation Title changes

Progress on the new Farm Bill remains stalled as members of Congress argue over price increases for commodity crops and proposed cuts to the Supplemen…

Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state except Alaska, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: KY’s drinking water, wetlands at risk

Kentucky has rapidly lost its wetlands over the past few decades, and advocates say the recent gutting of federal protections for marshes and other …

The rainfall totals observed between July 26-30, 2022, across eastern Kentucky were more than 600% above average, according to data from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Buyout Program Provides Millions for Flood-Prone Eastern KY Properties

Nearly a year after the historic flooding in eastern Kentucky, residents of Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, and Perry counties now have the option to …

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…

Kentucky has more navigable miles of water than any other state except Alaska, according to the Kentucky Geological Survey. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 67% of KY Streams, Rivers Impaired 50 Years After Clean Water Act

A recent report found 67% of streams and rivers in the Commonwealth are designated as "impaired for any use." An impaired waterway can contain unsafe…

The average cost of water and wastewater services has increased faster than the rate of inflation for at least two decades, according to the American Water Works Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Water Assistance Program Runs through 2023

Kentucky households can still apply for assistance to help pay their water bills. Additional federal aid through the American Rescue Plan Act …

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 …

The EPA's Science Advisory Board is an independent panel tasked each year with reviewing the agency's proposed changes to rules and regulations. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Panel Reviews EPA Rule Changes for Scientific Studies

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- An independent panel of scientists convenes this week to review rule changes proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency…

Many rural areas in the United States still lack access to basic running water, according to a report by the U.S. Water Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 2 Million in U.S. Live Without Running Water, Indoor Plumbing

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Some communities are being left behind when it comes to access to running water and indoor plumbing, including parts of rural …

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 …

The Ohio River is 981 miles long and supplies drinking water to more than 5 million people. (Adobe Stock)

Commission to Vote on Rolling Back Ohio River Pollution Rules

COVINGTON, Ky. - The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission is slated to vote on loosening water-pollution regulations at its meeting this …

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 …

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 …

Kentuckians fighting pollution flowing into the Green River are concerned that weakened Clean Water Act protections could hurt their case. (PatrickRohe/Flickr)

Clean Water Act Rollback Could Stymie KY Pollution Fights

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Some Kentuckians are concerned that proposed changes to the Clean Water Act could set back the fight against waste and …

Martin County's 10,000 residents never know day to day if their water will be usable. (Tante Tati/Pixabay)

Clean Water: Holiday Wish for Eastern Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Clean water flowing from the tap still is a luxury for many residents of Martin County who continue to experience the ripple …

Environmental groups say the Ohio River is still plagued by pollution that threatens public health. <br />(Ken Lund/Flickr)

Groups Caution Against Ditching Ohio River Water-Quality Standards

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A commission that helps control water quality in the Ohio River is looking to shed some of its duties. For 70 years…

A new study shows that climate change could be worsened by CO2 emitted by more organisms growing in streams. (S.J. & Jesse Quinney Library/Flickr)

Study: Rivers, Streams Overlooked in Climate Models

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Streams and rivers will emit increasing amounts of carbon dioxide as temperatures rise from climate change, according to a new …

Acidic water runoff from coal mine land in eastern Kentucky. (Ilovemountains.org/Flickr)

KY Groups Ask McConnell for Swift Action on Mine Reclamation

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky's coal country could get new life under legislation on Capitol Hill. A group of concerned citizens and organizations …

A new report says bottled water costs nearly 2,000 times as much as tap water. (Pixabay)

Take Back the Tap: Study Questions Bottled Water Sources

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Sales are skyrocketing in the bottled water industry. But what are companies actually selling to customers? In the new report …

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 …

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 …

Kentucky has thousands of miles of streams, but what about its water infrastructure? A new report finds billions of dollars of investment are needed in the nation's water infrastructure. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Report: More Investment Needed in Water Infrastructure

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A new report from the Value of Water Campaign outlines the major economic impact investments in the nation's water …

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 …

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 …

A petition signed by nearly 10,000 people urges Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass legislation creating economic opportunities by reclaiming abandoned mine sites. (Vivian Stockman/Flyover SouthWing)

Grassroots Petition to McConnell: Get Moving on RECLAIM Act

LONDON, Ky. – A grassroots message is being sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: it's time for swift action to pass legislation that …

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…

This is the Red River, where nearly a half-century ago a flood-control project sparked controversy. (U.S. Forest Service)

Stopping the Red River Dam: It's Been Almost a Half Century

STANTON, Ky. – A pivotal moment in stopping a controversial plan to dam the Red River, part of which is now Kentucky's only National Wild and …

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 …

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

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 …

A new study shows 20 percent more kids drink water at school if it is cold and offered with cups. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Key to Getting Kids to Drink More Water: Cold and in a Cup

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new study offers a simple solution for getting kids to drink more water in schools or child-care settings: Make it more convenient…

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 …

Parents are urged to buy water-quality test kits before letting kids play in public pools and water parks. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Check the Water at Your Public Pool

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- As the weather warms in Kentucky and opening day nears for outdoor swimming pools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

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 …

A new study finds that older Americans, especially men, and certain ethnic groups need to drink more water to stay healthy. (Greg Stotelmyer)

CDC: All, Especially Seniors, Should Drink More Water

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Centers for Disease Control has followed up on a study that was done about a decade ago that looks at whether Americans are …

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 …

All national parks, including Mammoth Cave, are free this weekend for Earth Day and National Park Week. The U.S interior secretary is calling for increased funds to maintain the parks. (NPS)

Interior Secretary Decries Maintenance Backlog in National Parks

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. - Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has an Earth Day message for the United States, "make a major course correction on environmental …

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 …

Conservationists want state lawmakers to restore funding cuts that the conservationists say have crippled land-conservation programs in Kentucky. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Conservationists Warn Budget Cuts Threaten Kentucky's Public Lands

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Conservationists are in Frankfort today, telling lawmakers that budget cuts are handcuffing efforts to protect public lands - land …

Reducing emissions from burning coal is a focus of the Clean Power Plan. Some legal experts say the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court could lessen the chances the court will derail the plan. (Greg Stotelmyer)

What's Next for Clean Power After Scalia’s Death?

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The sudden passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia could change the balance on the high court with regard to the Clean …

You may be surprised what's moving down the Ohio River. An environmental action group is keeping an eye on the shipment of oil-refining waste from the Chicago area to western Kentucky. (Greg Stotelmyer)

West Kentucky Gets Chicago Area Oil Refining Waste

PADUCAH, Ky. - Tons of oil-refining waste known as petcoke is on the move from Indiana across the country, including to far western Kentucky…

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KY: Water