Environmental Matters in the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Officials with the Office of the State Entomologist in the University of Kentucky Entomology Department reported two confirmed occurrences in Kentucky of emerald ash borer, an invasive insect pest of ash trees.
 
These are the first findings of this destructive insect in the state. The discoveries resulted from Kentucky Division of Forestry and University of Kentucky […]

• Read Full Entry

Prime Tanning Co., the former owner of a St. Joseph, Mo., tannery, is being sued over health concerns related to allegations that the plant’s sludge contained hexavalent chromium, a known human carcinogen.  Prime Tanning apparently gave tons of the sludge to farmers to spread on their fields for use as fertilizer. As a result, sludge […]

• Read Full Entry

U.S. EPA announced that on May 18, 2009, Ohio Fresh Eggs, LLC (“Eggs”) pled guilty in United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, to illegally discharging egg wash water into Kreisel Ditch, a tributary of Tymochtee Creek.In addition to Eggs’ guilty plea, a plea agreement was filed with the Court. The agreement recommends that […]

• Read Full Entry

In an effort to improve water quality and create jobs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $503,800 to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. A total of $39 million will be awarded nationally to states for Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) grants, which will […]

• Read Full Entry

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency has published its Summary Report: Exposure to asbestos-containing vermiculite from Libby, Montana, at 28 processing sites in the United States (Summary Report).  The Summary Report provides a review and analysis of what ATSDR and state health department partners learned during their […]

• Read Full Entry

The Center for Disease Control (“CSC”) recently published a study of perchlorate in infant formula published in The Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. Perchlorate is a contaminant in groundwater and drinking water supplies around the country. It is widely used by the military as an oxider in explosives, fireworks, road flares, and rocket […]

• Read Full Entry

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and […]

• Read Full Entry

The Arctic Sea ice extent dropped to its second-lowest level during the melt season since satellite measurements began in 1979. Climate extremes, including devastating floods, severe and persistent droughts, snow storms, heatwaves and cold waves, were recorded in many parts of the world.
 
Since 1978, satellite data have provided continuous coverage of sea ice extent […]

• Read Full Entry

Atmospheric CO2 measurements from the Mauna Loa Observatory gives us the most current, comprehensive and objective indicator of global warming and climate change.  CO2Now.org makes this information visible for people on the web.   
 
What level of atmospheric CO2 is safe?  According to leading scientists, the upper ceiling for CO2 in our atmosphere is 350 parts per […]

• Read Full Entry

After a very thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. EPA has issued a proposed finding that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. The proposed finding, which now moves to a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat.
That means […]

• Read Full Entry