Thanks to all that attended the meeting last night at the VFW, but for those that didn't, good news, things are moving in the right direction!! We have a state representative willing to submit legislation to committee regarding coal ash issues. We have Sierra that continues to help us locally, and also willing to help on the national level. Wonderful people, my sincere appreciation for your efforts. Ken says, we're just people that like clean air and water.
Many thanks to allies from KFTC and the interfaith community for your support last night. You guys rock!
I will be emailing and calling people in my neighborhood, on the southside of the power plant regarding forming a neighborhood organization in a week or so. No fees, no beautification projects in the works, just neighbors concerned about the filth and the pollution brought to us courtesy of LG&E. For those of us (all of us) that want instant gratification, I'm afraid it won't happen over night. But what's doing nothing got us?
Feel free to blog with us. We have an amazing opportunity for positive change
.
Catcha later.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Kentucky ranked 6th for worst mercury pollution in America, spurs new “coal justice” blog
Kentucky ranked 6th for worst mercury pollution in America, spurs new “coal justice” blog
A new report by Environment America reveals that Kentucky’s coal-fired power plants emitted 5,930 pounds of mercury in 2009, placing the commonwealth as the 6th worst emitter of toxic mercury in the nation right behind Indiana (ranked 5th), which spewed 6,046 pounds during the same year.Titled “Dirty Energy’s Assault on Our Health: Mercury,” (Warning: PDF linkage) the report utilzed the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which only includes emissions that have been reported to the EPA, thus potentially rendering the numbers far lower than might actually be the case.
“Our dependence on oil and coal-fired power plants has broad detrimental impacts on our health and our environment,” reads the report’s executive summary. “Power plants represent America’s single biggest source of air pollution, affecting our waterways, destroying ecosystems, and polluting the air we breathe. Pollution from coal-fired power plants in particular contributes to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the United States: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic respiratory diseases.”
In response to the news, the Sierra Club issued a press release, excerpts of which you can read after the jump …
(Bold emphasis mine)
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that puts pregnant women at-risk for birth defects in their children including learning disabilities, developmental disorders, and lower IQs. One in six American women has mercury levels in her blood high enough to put her baby at risk, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.In other coal-related news, a new blog, Louisville Residents for Coal Plant Justice, was started this week in advance of the mercury study in an effort to educate the public about LG&E’s plans for a new coal ash landfill in the alreadt-polluted/f$$$$d-over Rubbertown neighborhood. Add it to your RSS reader to keep abreast of the latest in Louisville environmental justice goings-onLEO WEEKLY Blog Story
“Powering our homes should not poison Kentucky’s and Indiana’s kids,” said Thomas Pearce, Sierra Club organizer. “This report shows that toxic mercury pollution from coal plants has reached unacceptable levels.”
The Environment America report found that 11 electric utilities in Kentucky and Indiana rank in the nation’s top 100 emitters of toxic mercury. The worst offender in Indiana was the American Electric Power Rockport Plant in Rockport, which emitted 1,226 pounds of mercury in 2009; while the worst offender in Kentucky was the Spurlock Power Station in Maysville, which emitted 921 pounds of mercury in 2009. Other plants in the worst 100 included the LG&E Mill Creek Station in Louisville, KY; IPL Petersburg station in Petersburg, IN; Big Rivers II in Robarbs, KY; Merom Generating Station in Sullivan, IN; Nipso RMShahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield, IN; AEP Big Sandy in Louisa, KY; Kentucky Utilities Co. Station in Ghent, KY; Clifty Creek Station in Madison, IN; and Duke Energy Gibson Generating Station in Owensville, IN.
“Toxic mercury from the Mill Creek and Cane Run power plants are making us sick,” said Kathy Little of Louisville, KY. “Kentuckiana parents need the Environmental Protection Agency to do its job, and protect our children’s health.
Mercury pollution is emitted into the air from coal-fired power plants, then falls into waterways from rain or snow. Mercury is then known to build up in fish then the animals—and people—that consume the fish, putting them at risk for reproductive failure and mortality. Studies suggest that even a gram-sized drop of mercury can contaminate an entire 20 acre lake. On the border of Kentucky and Indiana, the Ohio River is threatened with mercury pollution.
New Report: Indiana, Kentucky Power Plants Emit 5th and 6th Most Toxic Mercury Pollution in the Nation
New Report: Indiana, Kentucky Power Plants Emit 5th and 6th Most Toxic Mercury Pollution in the Nation
Louisville, KY – Kentucky and Indiana are the 5th and 6th most mercury-polluted states in the nation, according to a new Environment America report released today, “Dirty Energy’s Assault on our Health: Mercury.” The analysis shows that coal-fired power plants in Indiana emitted 6,048 pounds of toxic mercury pollution in the year 2009, while coal-fired plants in Kentucky emitted 5,930 pounds of mercury in 2009.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that puts pregnant women at-risk for birth defects in their children including learning disabilities, developmental disorders, and lower IQs. One in six American women has mercury levels in her blood high enough to put her baby at risk, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Powering our homes should not poison Kentucky’s and Indiana’s kids,” said Thomas Pearce, Sierra Club organizer. “This report shows that toxic mercury pollution from coal plants has reached unacceptable levels.”
The Environment America report found that 11 electric utilities in Kentucky and Indiana rank in the nation’s top 100 emitters of toxic mercury. The worst offender in Indiana was the American Electric Power Rockport Plant in Rockport, which emitted 1,226 pounds of mercury in 2009; while the worst offender in Kentucky was the Spurlock Power Station in Maysville, which emitted 921 pounds of mercury in 2009. Other plants in the worst 100 included the LG&E Mill Creek Station in Louisville, KY; IPL Petersburg station in Petersburg, IN; Big Rivers II in Robarbs, KY; Merom Generating Station in Sullivan, IN; Nipso RMShahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield, IN; AEP Big Sandy in Louisa, KY; Kentucky Utilities Co. Station in Ghent, KY; Clifty Creek Station in Madison, IN; and Duke Energy Gibson Generating Station in Owensville, IN.
“Toxic mercury from the Mill Creek and Cane Run power plants are making us sick,” said Kathy Little of Louisville, KY. “Kentuckiana parents need the Environmental Protection Agency to do its job, and protect our children’s health.
Mercury pollution is emitted into the air from coal-fired power plants, then falls into waterways from rain or snow. Mercury is then known to build up in fish then the animals—and people—that consume the fish, putting them at risk for reproductive failure and mortality. Studies suggest that even a gram-sized drop of mercury can contaminate an entire 20 acre lake. On the border of Kentucky and Indiana, the Ohio River is threatened with mercury pollution.
The report comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set to propose a new standard to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants, in March. Grassroots environmental groups including Environment America and the Sierra Club are calling on the EPA to issue strong health protections that will reduce toxic mercury emissions from power plants by more than 90%.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Facts about coal ash
Toxic Coal Ash -- Simple Facts
- Coal ash is dangerous to kids. Living near a toxic coal ash site is worse for your health than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
- In Jefferson County we have 2 power plants (Mill Creek and Cane Run) that have containments the EPA has already deemed as possible hazards
- Both the Mill Creek and Cane Run plants are currently leaking harmful substances into our groundwater.
- People living with 1 mile of these toxic coal ash sites have cancer rates 2,000 times higher than what EPA considers acceptable.
- 1.54 million children live near coal sites.
- Here in Kentucky, there are 44 coal ash disposal ponds, including seven ponds rated “high hazard” and five rated as “significant hazard.” In the Louisville area, coal ash from the LG&E Cane Run and Mill Creek power plants may be contaminating our groundwater.
- Kentucky families are speaking out about this to say, “stop putting our kids’ health at risk.”
- We can stop the proposed expansion of the Cane Run Coal Ash Containment. It has not won final approval and the world is watching!
Kentucky is buried under coal ash-Our concerns
Our Concerns
Our concerns:
· The Division of Waste Management should not grant the permit until after EPA finalizes the new coal ash rules; and the permit should incorporate provisions of the new regulations.
· LG&E needs to phase out burning coal as soon as possible, and to start transitioning to solar and hydropower soon.
· LG&E should move the location of the ash dump site out of the flood plain,
· LG&E must use state of the art liners wherever they dump coal combustion waste to avoid groundwater contamination
· This landfill should not be permitted until LG&E has stopped all leakage from the existing landfill and remediated the contamination there.
· Good monitoring wells must be required with enforceable monitoring and reporting requirements so we have scientific groundwater monitoring that is enforceable around the coal ash dump.
· LG&E must redesign the landfill to minimize the destruction of streams and wetlands.
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