In February, I wrote a letter to Tri-City area residents outlining the critical state of our wastewater treatment infrastructure and the urgent need to find a solution.
I would like to write again today to urge you to attend a public meeting with local leaders on May 14th at 6:30pm at the Benham Schoolhouse Inn. They stop sewage from polluting rivers and rivers and provide an economic stimulus to their communities.
The cities of Cumberland, Benham, and Lynch own and operate their own sewage collection systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). These plants were built in 1964, 1965, and 1955, respectively, and are in urgent need of repair or replacement. Although some repairs have been made, holes, cracks, and broken joints in sewer pipes are allowing excess rainwater and groundwater to flow into the pipes, overburdening these already limited facilities. I am.
Today, these treatment facilities, in their current state, are unable to sustain their original population, much less provide growth.
For years, community members in the three communities have discussed possible improvements, but high costs, leadership changes, and misplaced fears of losing autonomy have slowed progress. I am.
As a result, each wastewater treatment facility has continued to have significant violations over the past 12 quarters. More than 100 enforcement actions have been taken against the plant in the past five years for releasing staggering amounts of untreated or improperly treated waste into streams and waterways in southeastern Kentucky. There is.
The ecological, environmental, and health impacts of these practices on these communities are more than troubling. Swimming and contact with the water is no longer recommended for most of the upper Cumberland River watershed, including Martins Fork, Catron Creek, Clover Fork, Straight Creek, Poor Fork and Looney Creek. Fishing is restricted and eating fish from waterways is discouraged.
These same waterways are used as a source of drinking water for Cumberland communities.
In my February letter, I outlined the very viable but time-limited opportunities currently available to address these issues.
The Tri-Cities region, one of only 11 communities in the country, was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) to be the first participant in the wastewater remediation initiative. That kind.
As part of the award, the community received a comprehensive, free assessment of its wastewater system, as well as an improvement roadmap, funding sources, and technical assistance to implement the selected strategies. Options for improving drinking water, which is also a major concern for the region, were also evaluated and provided in this report.
All of this is being handed over to the leadership of Cumberland, Benham, and Lynch at little or no cost.
Also on the table is the option of waiving several years' worth of fines and pending lawsuits against the facility. Additionally, there is the option of essentially overlooking the lack of audited financial records that the system has been unable to report for the past three years.
But we must act now. EPA and USDA offer grants and loan programs available to help pay for wastewater system improvements. There are also many other sources of funding available.
I would like to thank EPA and USDA-RD for providing this wonderful opportunity. I would also like to thank the mayors and councilors of Cumberland, Benham and Lynch. Cumberland Valley Regional Development District. Rural Community Support Partnership (RCAP). Kentucky Rural Water Association (KRWA). The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) came together to develop solutions to each city's wastewater problems.
We look forward to meeting with you and local leaders on May 14th at the Benham Schoolhouse Inn, 100 Central Ave, Benham, KY 40807, to discuss the draft assessment and recommendations outlined. . We urge all residents to attend and encourage decision-makers to take this opportunity to do something now to address this horrific situation.
As proud citizens and stewards of a beautiful and unique natural resource, you and your children deserve better. As a customer, we cannot continue to fund aging, separate sewage systems that are essentially incapable of functioning.
It will be your last and best chance to make meaningful change.
Rebecca Goodman is the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary.
