News Release

Contact: Melissa Forsythe 10/17/97

Governor Paul Patton said today that he and U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers joined forces to save a $2.5 million dollar project to help clean up solid waste pollution of Lake Cumberland by making a series of phone calls to the White House. Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' project was among a number of congressionally requested projects being considered for a possible line­item veto by President Clinton.

Yesterday, Rogers alerted Patton to the possibility that the Cumberland River project, which was included in the fiscal year 1998 Energy and Water Appropriations Act at Rogers' request, might be vetoed by President Clinton. From Thursday night through Friday morning, both Patton and Rogers made calls to make sure the White House was fully aware about the critical need for the new device.

"Lake Cumberland has been a watery dumping ground for a tremendous amount of trash and debris, polluting this important flood control, power, water and recreational resource. The clean­up project is vital. We don't need trash in our waterways," Governor Patton said.

"The people of Southern and Eastern Kentucky have come together to clean up their region, and this device is just one component in that effort," Rogers said. "We can't keep our people healthy and save or attract the jobs and tourism we need if we don't clean our lakes, rivers, and roadsides. I was confident that if the White House was fully informed about the critical need for this innovative new device and the consequences of not cleaning up our waterways, that the project would receive the White House's full approval. I appreciate the Governor's critical help. "

Patton contacted Deputy Assistant to the President Fred Duval, relaying Kentucky's need for the project. The governor told him, "When the item is placed in front of the President for a veto, tell him Governor Patton and Congressman Rogers are having a news conference Monday at the project, and ask him what the governor should tell the people of that community?" Rogers called the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Franklin Raines, who is responsible for compiling the line­item veto list for the President. At 10:45 a.m. today, Rogers received a call from Raines informing him that the Cumberland River Trash collection device would not be vetoed. DuVal told the governor's office, "You won."

Governor Patton said, "This is a victory for the people of Kentucky, and all of us who want to protect the environment."

The governor and Congressman Rogers will be in Whitley County on Monday, October 20th, at 9:55 am, to tour the site for the new Cumberland River device, which will be located in the Redbird area. The visit is one of the stops during the official kick­off for the new, joint federal­state­local environmental initiative called Eastern Kentucky PRIDE Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment.