There are ‘serious concerns’ about the water pollution bill to Kentki’s top environmental officer

Kentki’s top environmental official says that he is “serious concerns” about a controversial bill that will allow more water pollution around the state from the coal industry and other commercial interests.

Kentaki Energy and Environment Secretary Rebecca Goodman sent a letter to the State Rape Gym Goach on Tuesday. The House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources President, to increase objections on Senate Bill 89.

The state Senate approved the bill last week and sent it to the House for further action.

Goodman wrote, “The bill threatens the quality of water, streams and tributaries in the bill and as a result, there will be a lot of compromise with Kentki’s groundwater, causing a lot of compromise with Kentki’s groundwater, well and at least 156 public water systems. The quality of water will be affected, “Goodman wrote. To bach.

Goodman wrote, “The bill will also require additional treatment for drinking and waste water as low source water will be protected, which will greatly affect the quality of water.” “Increased costs of additional testing will be passed through an increase in utility rate to Kentukian – an additional cost Kentukian does not need to bear the front of the grocery store and gas pump.”

Goodman wrote, “Water is a valuable resource for Kentukians. Dropping Commonwealth water at the point that water quality has decreased, while the increase in cost will negatively affect economic development opportunities for Kentki, “Goodman wrote.

Democratic village. Andy Aashiar appointed Goodman in 2019.

A spokesperson of Guch, R-provision and other House Republican leaders did not immediately respond to the request for remarks.

The Senate Bill will narrow the definition of the protected “Waters of the Commonwealth” used by the Kentaki Division of Water, so it reflects the 2023 US Supreme Court’s decision which has made the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the Federal Clean Water Act Weakened the capacity.

Currently, the state environmental regulator “are responsible for protecting all rivers, streams, creek, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, springs, wells, marshes and surface or other bodies of underground water, natural or artificial.”

But the Supreme Court limited the definition of protected “navigable water” to the oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, with “continuous surface connections for those bodies”.

The Clean Water Act no longer cover the wetlands and groundwater that does not have surface connections for the navigable water, or temporary “almanac headwater currents” that flows in large creek, streams and rivers after heavy rains or ice meltings .

Environmentalists have warned that limiting these other water state environmental inspection in Kentki is at risk of drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands. Ground water and almanac streams become a source of water for Kentukians that rely on underground wells and the water of the Downstream River respectively.

In his letter to the Chairman of the House Committee, Goodman created the same point.

He said, “This bill will make Kentaki the only state in the United States, which will surrender its right to define its water and endanger state regulatory primacy. This is not the place where Kent Need to be an exception, “he wrote.

Goodman included two maps with his letter, showing domestic-use wells around a Kentki that are affected by groundwater and showing other utilities that depend on groundwater. According to the state map in Eastern Kentaki coal mining counties, some heaviest dependence on private wells using groundwater appears.

Supporters of the Senate Bill say that this will help the coal industry relieve the regulator burden that it cope with the division of water when it dumps its filling around a mine site.

The Bill’s sponsor, State Sen Scott Madon, R-Pineville said last week on the serial floor, “It is time to stop the red tape to stop progress and let go of general knowledge.”

“As I always say that when I am talking about coal, God placed coal under our feet so that we can use it. It is one of our biggest natural resources,” Madon said . “And it is our job that you push back on unwanted bureaucrats that eliminate and keep the component from the government over the overrech.”

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