FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor
March 1, 2002
Contact:          Terri Giltner (502) 564-2611
                        Mark York (502) 564-3350 

STATE SENATE TO TAKE UP TRASH
HB 174 provides cities and counties funding for cleanup

FRANKFORT, Ky., (March 1, 2002) - The Kentucky Senate began it’s review of legislation that will dramatically improve the state’s environment by addressing serious solid waste and highway litter problems.  Under the provisions outlined in House Bill (HB) 174, local communities will receive up to $19.5 million dollars to clean up trash and illegal dumps.

HB 174, sponsored by Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 12, and received it’s first hearing by the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.   HB 174 provides funds to counties to clean up illegal dumps and roadside litter, and implements a statewide environmental education program.

The bill also directs the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet to manage the closure of more than 550 landfills across the state.  These landfills pose a significant threat to human safety and the environment since, until recently, there were very few regulations governing what went into landfills and how they were to be properly closed.

Chemicals such as benzene, chromium, lead, mercury and vinyl chloride can be found in many old landfills and can leak out, affecting nearby creeks and streams.  All of these materials are proven to cause severe health problems .

Funding for the program comes from a one-half cent environmental impact fee on certain containers, beverage cups and disposable cups, as well as a $1 per-ton tipping fee at landfills.  The fund, dubbed the Kentucky Pride Fund, is expected to generate $30 million annually.

Cities and counties would receive up to $10.5 million from the fund for litter control, anti-litter programs and recycling efforts.  Counties would also receive $9 million to clean up illegal dumps.  Implementing the environmental education master plan will take $1.5 million while the cabinet will receive $9 million to identify, remediate and properly close old landfills.

Should more than $30 million be generated annually, up to $10 million would be shared equally by the Kentucky Parks Enhancement Fund and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.  If revenues exceed $40 million annually, the excess funds would be shared between the Pride Fund, the Parks Enhancement Fund and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

To urge your state senator to vote for the existing bill, call toll-free, 1-800-372-7181.

-30- 

Editors note: To see how much funding your county would receive for dump cleanup and litter control, visit www.kyenvironment.org and click on HB 174 funding for counties.