PFAS Subcommittee of the Kentucky Drinking Water and Clean Water Advisory Workgroup to Meet May 21

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 14, 2024) – The PFAS Subcommittee of the Drinking Water and Clean Water Advisory Workgroup will meet May 21 at 9 a.m. Eastern time. The meeting will be held virtually, via Teams or by calling into the number provided below.

Join Teams meeting 
Meeting ID: 231 689 428 971
Passcode: XAJ9uH

To dial in by phone: +1 502-632-6289,,47327684# United States, Louisville 
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 473 276 84#

Agenda 

• Final PFAS Drinking Water Rule presentation
• Discussion on subcommittee goals
• Talking points:
  • Communication materials
  • Other needs
• Determine next meeting date

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Gov. Beshear Announces $500,000 to Four Counties for Application of Rubber-Modified Asphalt to Roadways

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman announced that $566,176 in grant funding has been awarded to four counties for rubber-modified asphalt projects using waste tires. 

Counties receiving grants include: Christian County ($117,124.99), Meade County ($125,280.00), Todd County ($156,571.00), and Trimble County ($167,199.95). 

The grant funding will be used for the application of asphalt overlay to county roads. Thin asphalt overlays using rubber-modified asphalt have been shown to reduce noise, are more resistant to cracking and rutting, and increase the life of the roadway by 7 to 10 years. 

Roads being surfaced include: Millers Mill Road in Christian County, Old Ekron Road in Meade County, State Line Road in Todd County, and Milton-Bedford Pike in Trimble County. Selected roads have road culverts, shoulders and bases in good condition.  

Team Kentucky accepts applications for rubber-modified asphalt grants during March and April. Successful projects see a cost-effective, performance-enhancing additive for county paving projects and improve end-use markets for recycled tires, which can lead to better waste tire management across the commonwealth. 

The money for these projects comes from the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund, which receives $2 from every new tire sold in the commonwealth.   

As a condition of the grant funding, counties agree to pay for the application of conventional chip seal or thin overlay on a road in their county with similar characteristics, to allow for comparison between conventional and rubber-modified asphalt.  

This is the eighth year RMA grants have been offered and have funded nearly $3.6 million worth of projects in 31 counties since the grant program began. 

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Gov. Beshear Announces Nearly $850,000 for Rubber Mulch Projects

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced $847,878 will be awarded to 23 counties for projects using recycled rubber. Projects range from park benches, picnic tables, landscaping, parking curbs, poured-in-place surfacing projects for walking trails, poured-in-place running track and poured-in-place playgrounds that use recycled waste tires.  

The grants are from the Waste Tire Trust Fund, established by the 1998 General Assembly, which receives $2 from the retail sale of each new tire in the state. The fund helps manage the approximately 5 million scrap tires generated in Kentucky each year and promotes the development of markets for recycled tire products. 

“With projects like these, we are creating a new Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “We are backing innovative solutions that support important values of sustainability and concern for the next generation.” 

Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman applauded all those that applied for the funding. 

“We are honored each year to work with our local communities and to see these unique, beneficial projects come to life,” Secretary Goodman said. “Every tire that goes to these projects is one that stays out of our waterways or landfills.” 

Recipients, along with grant amounts, are as follows: 

Applicant	Project Location	Grant Amount
Allen	Allen County Fiscal Court, Allen County Judicial Center – Landscaping around the judicial center	$6,540
Ballard	Ballard County Board of Education, Ballard County Elementary School – Park Benches	$1,367
Carroll	Carroll County Fiscal Court, Camp KYSOC – Park Benches, Picnic Tables and Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Tables	$8,210
Casey	City of Liberty, Lake Liberty Park – Picnic Tables and Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Table	$17,957
Clark	Clark County Board of Education, Conkwright Elementary School – Poured-In-Place Playground	$34,675
Crittenden	Crittenden County Fiscal Court, Marion City-County Park – Poured-In-Place Playground	$75,000
Daviess	City of Owensboro, Moreland Park – Poured-In-Place Playground	$75,000
Graves	Graves County Board of Education – Poured-In-Place Running Track	$40,000
Hancock	Hancock County Fiscal Court, Vastwood Park – Recycled Rubber Parking Curbs	$6,557
Harlan	Friends of Benham, Coal Miner’s Memorial Park – Picnic Tables	$5,604
Lawrence	Lawrence County Fiscal Court, The Cove (County Inflatable Water Park) – Picnic Tables	$5,682
Letcher	Letcher County Fiscal Court, Fish Pond Lake Area – Picnic Tables	$5,747
Lincoln	Lincoln County Fiscal Court, Logan-Hubble Memorial Park – Park Benches, Picnic Tables and Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Table	$19,896
Marshall	City of Benton, H.H. Lovett Park – Poured-In-Place Playground	$75,000
McLean	City of Livermore, Livermore Riverfront and Depot Parks – Park Benches and Picnic Tables	$14,800
Montgomery	Sid Calk Lake, Inc., Calk Lake – Park Benches, Picnic Tables and Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Tables	$10,484
Perry	Perry County Schools, Buckhorn School – Poured-In-Place Playground	$47,350
Robertson	Robertson County Board of Education, Robertson County Schools – Poured-In-Place Playground	$71,250
Rowan	City of Morehead, Morehead City Park – Poured-In-Place Playground	$133,470
Spencer	Spencer County Board of Education, Taylorsville Elementary School – Poured-In-Place Playground	$31,850
Trigg	Cadiz-Trigg County Joint Parks and Recreation Board, West Cadiz Park/Cadiz Recreation Area – Poured-In-Place Playground	$75,000
Webster	Webster County Fiscal Court, Canaan Ridge Park – Poured-In-Place Walking Trail	$75,000
Whitley	Whitley County Fiscal Court, Whitley County Fairgrounds – Picnic Tables and Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Table	$11,439
TOTAL		$847,878

For questions or additional information, please contact Lisa Evans at lisa.evans@ky.gov or Brittany Woodward at bwoodward@ky.gov 

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Gov. Beshear Announces $9 Million for Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste and Composting Programs

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced $9 million in grants to Kentucky municipalities, fiscal courts and universities for 73 projects across the commonwealth to expand recycling, reduce the amount of solid waste going into landfills and improve the handling of household hazardous waste.   

“Kentucky is fortunate that so many municipalities are stepping up to reuse and recycle to reduce the amount of solid waste piling up in our landfills,” Gov. Beshear said. “This shows care for the environment and for each other.” 

A complete list of grant recipients can be viewed here. 

This program awarded three types of grants: 

• There are 29 recycling grants, worth $4.6 million, providing funds for counties to purchase recycling equipment with the goal of promoting sustainable regional recycling infrastructure. 
• There are 15 composting grants, worth $15.4 million, to purchase equipment to improve composting and to promote creative solutions for managing food waste, lawn waste and other organic material.  
• There are 29 household hazardous waste grants, worth $1 million, for counties to conduct annual drop-off events for citizens to dispose of household chemicals, old electronics and other potentially hazardous wastes. 

These grants require a 25 percent local match in the form of cash or “in kind” labor, educational activities or advertising to promote the program from those receiving the awards. 

Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said the household hazardous waste grants raise awareness about the importance of recycling home electronic equipment. 

“We all need to consider the life cycle of products and how we carefully dispose of them,” Secretary Goodman said. 

Funding for the grants comes from the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated by a $1.75 fee for each ton of municipal solid waste disposed of in Kentucky landfills. 

In order to apply for the next round of recycling, composting and household hazardous waste grants, applications should be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Division of Waste Management, Recycling and Local Assistance Branch, or emailed to williamt.collins@ky.gov by 4 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2025.   

The original application and any supporting documentation must be submitted in order for an application to be complete. Each grant requires a 25 percent local match. Application materials can be found here. 

For more information about the division’s recycling efforts, please visit the Kentucky Division of Waste Management website. 

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Ozone Season is Here

Outdoor burning restricted in some counties

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 6, 2024) – May marks the beginning of ozone season in the Commonwealth, and for some, that means taking extra care to learn before you burn. From May 1 through September 30, outdoor burning in Boone, Boyd, Bullitt, Campbell, Jefferson, Kenton, Lawrence, and Oldham counties is restricted to protect air quality.

Ground-level ozone is a summertime health risk, created when pollutants chemically react in the atmosphere in the presence of heat and sunlight.

“Outdoor or open burning contributes to ozone pollution, especially when the weather turns warmer,” said Michael Kennedy, director of the Division for Air Quality. “Normally, we think of ozone as something that protects us when it’s up high in the atmosphere. But when ozone occurs at ground level, it’s a serious problem for human health.”

From May through September, outdoor burning of household rubbish, brush, tree limbs, leaves and natural growth from land clearing is not permitted in Boone, Boyd, Bullitt, Campbell, Kenton, and Oldham counties. A portion of Lawrence County is also subject to open burning restrictions during ozone season. Open burning is restricted year-round in Jefferson County.

All of these counties have, at one time or another, exceeded air quality standards for ozone or particulate matter pollution.

Burning trash – at any time of the year – is illegal in all Kentucky counties. State law prohibits the outdoor burning of many materials including plastic, tires, cans, coated wire, carpeting and food waste. In addition, the burning of trailers, buildings, and construction and demolition debris such as shingles, drywall and insulation is prohibited. 

Painted, stained or treated wood products such as fence posts, pallets, and furniture are illegal to burn, because they release dangerous toxins into the air. Items that cannot be recycled should be taken to a state-permitted landfill.

To report illegal open burning or to learn more about open burning restrictions in your area, please call the Division for Air Quality at 502-782-6592 or email burnlaw@ky.gov , or visit the division’s website at eec.ky.gov/Air.

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Kentucky Oil and Gas Workgroup to Meet May 8

Hybrid meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 2, 2024) – The Kentucky Oil and Gas Workgroup will meet May 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. Eastern time. Please plan to attend the meeting in person at the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, 300 Sower Blvd., 2nd Floor Conference Room, Frankfort, Kentucky, or call in using the number below.

Teleconference available for those unable to attend in person: 
(502)632-6289
Conference ID: 195 629 283#

Agenda:

• Discussion of class VI strawman
• New business
• Public comment period

Next meeting date is scheduled tentatively for June 7, 2024, 10 a.m. to noon.

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Division of Waste Management announces $4,000 grants available from the Waste Tire Trust Fund

Kentucky counties urged to apply for funds

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 1, 2024) – Kentucky counties can now apply for $4,000 in waste tire recycling and removal grants. The funds are available through the Division of Waste Management (DWM) Waste Tire Trust Fund.

Eligible expenses include the actual costs that the county incurs during the grant period for recycling or disposal of waste tires. Other expenses, such as labor and equipment costs, are not eligible.

“We look forward to the opportunity to work with our local communities to continue efforts to properly dispose of and recycle waste tires,” said Darin Steen, manager of DWM’s Recycling and Local Assistance Branch. “We encourage all those interested to apply.”

The grant period is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Costs incurred by a county beginning July 1, 2024 for recycling or disposal of waste tires are eligible. Counties must submit receipts for those costs with their close-out report form by July 15, 2025.

Waste Tire Grant applications must be submitted no later than June 7th, 2024. These grants do not require a match. Any unused funds must be returned to the Cabinet by July 31, 2025.

The grant packets will be sent via email to county judge-executives and solid waste coordinators. They can also be found at https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Waste/recycling-and-local-assistance/waste-tires/Pages/default.aspx

For more information contact Jenny Carr at 502-782-4663 or jenny.carr@ky.gov.

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Kentucky Reclamation Guaranty Fund Commission to Meet May 7

Meeting begins at 9 a.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 26. 2024) – The Kentucky Reclamation Guaranty Fund Commission will meet on May 7, 2024 at 9 a.m. Eastern time via a hybrid method (in-person and virtual thru the Zoom Meeting platform).

For those attending in person, the meeting location will be: 
300 Sower Boulevard, 3^rd Floor, Secretary’s Conference Room, Frankfort, KY. Please contact Ms. Wendy Bohn at 502-782-1983 upon arrival. 

For those attending virtually: From your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82643997339?pwd=NXRzZkx2UUppRWFTU3FmdVlEOVFUQT09

Meeting ID: 826 4399 7339 
Passcode: 773521 

One tap mobile 
+13126266799,,82643997339#,,,,*773521# US (Chicago) 
+16469313860,,82643997339#,,,,*773521# US

Dial by your location

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
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• 833 928 4608 US Toll-free
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• 877 853 5257 US Toll-free

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbu5RkWClz

Please note:  KRGF commissioners are encouraged to attend in person if possible.  If a commissioner is not in-person, video must be enabled to vote on commission business. For questions about connecting to the videoconference, please contact Courtney Skaggs at 502-782-6770.

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Funding available for transportation, local governments through the installation of solar, wind, fuel cells and/or biomass.

Webinars available for potential applicants, April 24, 2024

FRANKFORT (April 19, 2024) – The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) Office of Energy Policy (OEP) announces two new funding opportunities to help improve energy efficiency in Kentucky’s transportation sector, for local government buildings and facilities, and to assist local governments in reducing energy use through the installation of renewable energy technology such as solar, wind, fuel cells and/or biomass.

Zero-emission Vehicle Infrastructure
The Office of Energy Policy will be accepting applications for the installation and operation of light-duty zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment.  State, local, and federal government agencies in Kentucky are encouraged to apply for the reimbursable grant.  A total of $765,000 is available through the VW Environmental Mitigation Settlement. 

Maximum reimbursable rebate amounts available will be 50 percent of eligible project expenses up to $25,000 per project. The Level 2 charging location must be open to the public 24/7 and 7 days per week. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for complete applications submitted to the OEP and will be made available until all funds are exhausted.  Project work cannot begin until applicants receive application approval from the Energy and Environment Cabinet.

A webinar to assist applicants will be held at 2 p.m. EST April 24, 2024. Register here for the VW Webinar

Energy Efficiency Conservation Blok Grant (EECBG)
Energy Efficiency Conservation Blok Grants will also be available from the Office of Energy Policy.  The EECBG program provides up to $2 million for energy efficiency projects undertaken through Kentucky’s local governments.  Up to five grants ranging between $500,000 to $1 million will be awarded for projects with an August 2024 start date.  While a cost share is not required, projects with a cost share will receive bonus points in scoring.

A webinar to assist applicants of the EECBGs will be held on April 24 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Register here for the EECBG Webinar

Applications and more information for both funding opportunities will be available at https://eec.ky.gov/Energy/Pages/default.aspx beginning April 24.

Potential projects include:   

• Energy Efficiency upgrades to local government buildings and facilities including distributed resources and district heating and cooling systems.
• Activities to increase participation in reducing, capturing and using methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources.
• Replacement of traffic signals, street lighting, and other outdoor lighting with energy-efficient lighting technologies including light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other similar technologies.
• Implementation and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources including solar, wind, fuel cells, and/or biomass.

To provide grant assistance across the state, local governments in communities that have received direct funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Community Facilities Disaster program or underserved designated communities are not eligible to apply. 

These are the counties and cities that cannot apply for EECBG funds from the Office of Energy Policy because they were able to get a direct allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Cities	Counties
Louisville	Boone
Lexington	Campbell
Florence	Kenton
Bowling Green	Warren
Richmond	Bullitt
Georgetown	Laurel
Owensboro	McCracken
Hopkinsville	Oldham
Elizabethtown	Pulaski
Covington	Hardin

For more information, contact Lona.Brewer@ky.gov, Office of Energy Policy, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

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Lead in Drinking Water Working Group to Meet April 29

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 19, 2024) – The Lead in Drinking Water Working Group will hold a hybrid meeting (in person at 300 Sower Blvd in Frankfort and by videoconference) on April 29, 2024 from 1–3 p.m. EST. If you have questions about connecting to the videoconference, please contact Elizabeth Dowling at elizabeth.dowling@ky.gov or 502-782-0965.
In person:
300 Sower Blvd., Third floor conference room
Frankfort, KY 40601

Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83657937116?pwd=dFVQU2ZvUjdWYTczVnlLY256ZnJDQT09
Meeting ID: 836 5793 7116
Passcode: 945665
Dial in: 833 548 0282 US Toll-free
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ktEksBZnU

Agenda
1. Call meeting to order and call for changes in membership
2. Change in roles – chair, co-chair
3. Summarize efforts to provide comments on LCRI
4. Subgroup working time (discuss survey)
     Small systems
     Funding/financing
     Lead service line inventories and replacements
     Public communications
     Corrosion control
     Schools and childcare centers
     Procedures
     Regulatory
5. DWSRF updates – Russell Neal
6. EPA updates
7. Primacy agreement updates – Ethan Givan or TK Brown
8. Public comment opportunity
9. Set next meeting date – propose Wednesday, July 31 at 10:00
Adjourn

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