State of Kentucky’s Environment A Report of Progress and Problems Prepared by the Environmental Quality Commission Commonwealth of Kentucky Printed with the generous support of The Mary and Barry Bingham, Sr. Fund Division of Natural Areas, Eastern Kentucky University Cumberland College 1992 i The Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission is an independent seven-member citizen board, established under state law, to advise the Governor and the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet on environmental matters. The Commission serves as a working public forum for the exchange of views, concerns, information, and recommendations relating to the quality of Kentucky’s environment. EQC Commissioners: Wm. Horace Brown, Chair Gordon R. Garner, Vice–Chair H. Milton Patton, Secretary Henry L. Stephens Floyd H. Ellis Aloma W. Dew For additional copies of this report, contact the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission 14 Reilly Road Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1132 (502) 564-2150 For Talking Book versions of the report, contact the Kentucky Department for Library and Archives 300 Coffee Tree Road - P.O. Box 537 Frankfort, Kentucky 40602 This document may be reproduced or copied in any form, provided the report is appropriately referenced. Cover Photograph: The Cumberland River Wm. Horace Brown Printed with state and private funds on recycled paper. ii Dear Readers: It was 30 years ago when Harry Caudill’s Night Comes to the Cumberlands raised the consciousness of Kentucky and the nation about the degradation and exploitation of our land and human resources. Kentucky has come a long way since then. The progress outlined in the Environmental Quality Commission’s “State of Kentucky’s Environment: A Report of Progress and Problems” warrants optimism that the quality of our natural environment is improving. During the past two decades, thousands of miles of streams have been restored, air pollution in our cities has been greatly reduced, and we have taken steps to clean up hundreds of waste dumps and reclaim old sites. Consider these examples: — The percentage of monitored rivers and streams in Kentucky impaired by pollution has declined from 70% in 1970, to 36% today. — The quality of public drinking water has improved for many Kentuckians. Violations of drinking water standards for bacteria have decreased 90% during the last decade. — Statewide sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants have been reduced nearly 50% since 1980. — 105 Kentucky counties now have ordinances for universal garbage collection, compared to 14 in early 1991. — Less soil is eroded from state cropland preserving productivity and preventing water pollution. Kentucky now leads the nation in farmland conservation practices. — Thousands of acres of abandoned mine lands have been reclaimed, minimizing their impact on small mountain streams. We have accomplished these improvements while our population and economy have grown. This clearly indicates that environmental health and economic growth are not mutually exclusive and can coexist. We cannot rest on these accomplishments as we still face major challenges to restore and preserve our resources. The “State of Kentucky’s Environment” report reveals the many problems that confront the Commonwealth. Managing solid wastes, protecting our groundwater resources, preserving unique natural areas, reducing hazardous and toxic wastes, and controlling the release of air toxics are among the important issues that must be addressed. Evidence of Kentucky’s commitment to meeting these challenges is increasing every day. Individuals, industries, government agencies, and communities are joining forces to solve environmental problems while preventing new ones. This cooperative spirit is found in the leadership of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, where Secretary Phillip Shepherd and Deputy Secretary Greg Higdon share a commitment to making the agency fair and responsive to the needs of all Kentuckians. I will work toward achieving a clean and healthy environment. With the commitment of all Kentuckians, I am confident we will accomplish our vision and make Kentucky an even better place for our children and grandchildren to grow and prosper. Sincerely, Brereton C. Jones, Governor Commonwealth of Kentucky iii Contents Acknowledgements.................................................................. vi Executive Summary .............................................................. 1-18 Overview ............................................................................. 19-28 Assessing Environmental Quality .......................................... 19 Costs of Environmental Protection ....................................... 20 Compliance with Existing Laws ............................................ 23 New Strategies .................................................................... 26 Setting Goals and Policy ...................................................... 28 1 Water Resources .......................................................... 29-80 Rivers and Streams .............................................................. 31 Lakes and Reservoirs............................................................ 55 Groundwater ...................................................................... 59 Drinking Water Quality ........................................................ 65 Water Availability ................................................................ 74 2 Air Quality.................................................................. 81-118 Conventional Air Pollutants ................................................. 83 Air Toxics........................................................................... 101 Acidic Deposition (Acid Rain) ............................................. 109 Global Warming and Ozone Depletion .............................. 111 Indoor Air Quality .............................................................. 115 3 Waste Management ................................................ 119-173 Hazardous Waste .............................................................. 120 Municipal Solid Waste ....................................................... 145 Industrial Solid Waste ........................................................ 166 Special Waste .................................................................... 167 Medical Waste .................................................................. 168 Low-Level Radioactive Waste ............................................. 170 4 Toxics ........................................................................ 175-187 Toxic Releases.................................................................... 176 Risk Assessment ................................................................ 185 Toxics in the Home ............................................................ 186 iv 5 Natural Resources.................................................... 189-262 Land Management ............................................................ 191 Agricultural Lands ............................................................. 195 Forestry ............................................................................. 220 Natural Areas .................................................................... 235 Fish and Wildlife Resources ............................................... 246 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................. 257 6 Coal Mining.............................................................. 263-286 Coal Mining Facts.............................................................. 264 Regulation of Coal Mining................................................. 266 Abandoned Mine Lands .................................................... 282 Lands Unsuitable for Mining .............................................. 284 7 Energy ...................................................................... 287-306 Energy Consumption ......................................................... 288 Energy Production and Supplies ......................................... 295 Energy Efficiency and Conservation ................................... 302 Energy Costs ..................................................................... 303 Energy Strategies............................................................... 305 Appendix A—Kentucky's Environmental Indicators ........... 309 Appendix B—Abbreviations ................................................. 314 Appendix C—State/County Reference Map ........................ 316 Bibliography........................................................................... 317 Index ....................................................................................... 329 v Acknowledgments What is the “State of Kentucky’s Environment?” The Kentucky Legislature directed the Environmental Quality Commission in 1990 to consider this question and review and report conditions and trends in the health of the state’s water, air, and land resources to determine environmental quality in the Commonwealth. This first–time assessment required more than a year to complete and represents information assembled from government, academic, industry, and environmental organiza- tions. The members of the Environmental Quality Commission directed the project. The principal authors were Leslie A. Cole, Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Commission, and Peggy Pauley, Assistant Director. Cecilia Hayden, Executive Assistant, and Paula Nye, Administrative Secretary to the Commission provided