Kentucky Resources Council

Mining

• Brought about major reform in the state’s permit requirements for groundwater protection during mining operations.
• Helped to end the scourge of strip mining under the notorious “broad form” mineral deed.
• Successfully challenged pattern of nonenforcement of state’s mining program resulting in a comprehensive agreement to reform the enforcement of the laws in the state.
• Challenged legality of over 150 changes to the national surface mining regulations proposed by the Reagan and Bush Administrations during the 1980’s.
• Protected Cannon Creek Lake, Pineville’s water supply, UK’s 10,000-acre Robinson Forest, Fern Lake, the source of drinking water for Middlesboro, Kentucky, Lilley Cornett Woods, a protected tract of old-growth forest in Kentucky, the historic Pine Mountain Settlement School, and Big Black Mountain from strip mining.
• Protected hundreds of communities from the effects of coal tipples by challenging federal regulations that would have de-regulated coal tipples located away from coal mine sites.
• Caused state to improve regulations governing limestone, sand and gravel mining. 

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Waste Management

• Defeated a landfill proposal atop a cave that supplied the water for Livingston, Kentucky.
• Authored numerous articles, law review notes, and public information brochures.
• Defeated a proposed commercial hazardous waste incinerator in southwest Jefferson County.
• Drafted law classifying nerve gas stored at an Army Depot as hazardous waste, resulting in Army rejecting incineration and choosing a safer method to destroy the nerve agents.
• Wrote three laws that helped stop Kentucky from being the dumping ground for New York and New Jersey garbage and giving counties control over waste disposal in their county.
• Developed strong solid waste management plans and host community agreements for use by any community facing the threat of new landfills and incinerators. 
• Closed a facility that processed aluminum wastes (“dross”) and emitted hydrogen sulfide gases in a poor African-American community in the town of Drakesboro.
• Assisted Muhlenberg County residents in stopping proposal to dump sewage sludge there.
• Defeated an attempted rezoning to allow dumping of coal ash on farmland in Bullitt County. 

Addressing Development, and Protecting Air, Land, and Water

• Successfully opposed oil and gas drilling in designated wild river corridors.
• Successfully opposed a proposal to build a high dam on the Kentucky River.
• Helped facilitate designation of the Red River Gorge into the federal Wild and Scenic River.
• Defeated dam construction in a candidate national wild and scenic river in Jackson County, Kentucky, and protected farmland in Pendleton County from inundation by proposed dam.
• Secured court decision limiting condemnation for oil and gas pipelines to public utilities.
• Successfully challenged Kentucky changes weakening water quality standards.
• Stopped proposal to burn municipal solid waste and sludges to fuel the boilers at wood plant.
• Helped craft and defend Louisville Air Toxics Control Program.
• Represented Metropolitan Housing Coalition, AARP, and others in many proceedings before the state Public Service Commission, seeking to protect poor ratepayers and environment. 

Legislative Advocacy

• Helped craft comprehensive solid waste law funding litter cleanup and city landfills closure.
• Drafted legal siting process to assess and mitigate impacts of new proposed power plants.
• Fought to extend funding for removal of leaking underground gasoline storage tanks.
• Negotiated law allowing voluntary remediation of contamination properties.
• Negotiated a coalbed methane law providing notice, protection of groundwater and liability for any damage, reclamation plans, and for appeals by injured landowners.
• Drafted several laws significantly advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy.