State and local lawmakers to attend coal ash meeting

Metro Council members Attica Scott (D-1) and Rick Blackwell (D-12) along with the Sierra Club are sponsoring an informational community meeting concerning the problem with coal ash in Southwest Jefferson County.

The meeting will be held on Monday, February 20th at the Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway from 7:00pm until 9:00pm

“This is an opportunity for the community to receive an update on what is going on with coal ash and LG&E,” says Scott.

State Representative Joni Jenkins and Reginald Meeks will also be in attendance.

Information sought from District 21 residents on flooding

21st District Metro Councilman Dan Johnson's office is requesting information from residents on flooding in the wake of Wednesday's storms. Please reply with your answers to ray.manley@louisvilleky.gov

Frightening weather Wednesday evening resulted in numerous incidents of street and basement flooding. We are gathering information on the flooding to determine the extent of the problem. Please reply to this email and answer the following questions.

Please include your address so we can track the problem locations.

1. Did your street flood June 22nd?

2. If your street flooded how deep was it?

3. Did your basement flood June 22nd?

4. If your basement flooded how deep was the water in your basement?

5. If your basement flooded, was it because of surface water running in a door or window?

6. If your basement flooded was it because of water seeping in through your foundation?

7. If your basement flooded was it because of a sewer backing-up?

8. Do you have a MSD installed back-flow prevention valve?

9. Do you have a “sewer back-up” rider on your homeowners insurance policy?

Your answers will help us evaluate the level of flooding in District 21. Thanks for your cooperation.

Ray Manley

Legislative Assistant District 21

574-1121

Clean air, good jobs. We can have both.

- Mayor Fischer has promised a fix for the sorry ass notification system existing today in Rubbertown that is supposed to alert residents to any danger emanating from nearby industry. The problem is, the residents have to call a line that has to be updated by the companies doing the emanating. That's like making people call the Weather Channel for a prerecorded message to find out exactly "where" the tornado is.

I hope they figure out a system that makes sense and is effective. Either that or, as some of us have proposed many times in the past, find the cash to buy out the residents of Rubbertown. If they can do it over airplane noise, they can do it over something like this.

The work there is hazardous and the production of some materials there puts the health of the neighbors at higher risk than normal. But these are good union jobs -the type we are fighting for- and that also has to be taken into account. The emission standards cannot be made so stringent that it forces the companies located there to move out to somewhere like Mexico, where there are no standards whatsoever. Clean air and good jobs...we can have both. Here's the story in case you missed it. [CJ]

- On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. The workers were trying to form a union with AFSCME.

On Monday April 4, unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies will host a range of community and workplace-focused actions. As part of this nationwide action, there will be a rally held downtown at 6th & Jefferson. The event begins at 5:30pm.

Join us in solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for. It’s a day to show the power of our movement. We are one.

Disaster at Carbide: Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living

Note: The following was posted at Insider Louisville on Wednesday and has generated significant interest. I'm reposting it here today for my readers in case you missed it. Have a safe weekend - Brian

Trade unionists have many phrases to live by, not the least of which is this one: “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.”

After finally breaching what seemed to be an “Iron Curtain” of silence among current and former employees of Carbide Industries on Bells Lane, Insider Louisville has been able to speak with two people who have direct knowledge about Monday’s incident in which two men were killed in an explosion.

A former Carbide Industries employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Insider Louisville on Wednesday, “It is my understanding they had plans to overhaul that furnace within two to three years. They should not have waited.”

The former employee then added with emphasis: “The place was a ticking time bomb. They constantly had smaller explosions there, you just didn’t hear about them on the news. Maybe if profits were put aside for a minute, those poor souls would still be alive today.”

Carbide Industries is North America’s largest producer of calcium carbide products, according to the company’s website

Calcium carbide is the primary source of acetylene gas used in metal fabrication.

The building Carbide operates out of is an old one, having been among the very first to begin operating in the Rubbertown area, an area that was to become the largest producer of synthetic rubber in the world.

Old facilities like the Carbide plant are inherently more hazardous than modern ones.

Carbide Industries’ Louisville location takes raw materials and turns them into calcium carbide by means of super-heating all the ingredients inside of a furnace in which temperatures can reach 3800 degrees Fahrenheit.

One insider told me that Carbide always was and continued to be a “filthy, nasty place to work” up until Monday’s explosion.

Time will tell if the sources are correct in their assessment of the situation. Until then, we should call on all traditional media outlets to stop repeating what they are told in press releases and use their resources to get to the bottom of the story.

Women’s Health Fair in District 13 this Friday

Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch is sponsoring a Women’s Health Fair and Breast Cancer Screening on Friday, February 18th.

“We want to make sure women have the information they need to lead a healthier life,” says Welch. “These health fairs have gone a long way in the past to help women understand the risk of breast cancer and other diseases.”

The Women’s Health Fair will get under way at the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church, 903 Fairdale Road. It will run from 8:30am to 3:30pm.

The event focuses on two key areas; breast cancer screening and general health information.

“We have a great group of working partners who have helped us get out information on not only breast cancer but blood pressure, diabetes and other lifestyle information for those who want to be healthier,” said Welch.

Women who would like to be involved in the breast cancer screenings with mammograms must meet the following qualifications:

* Program is for women age 40 & over

* No cost to program eligible women w/o insurance

* Insurance filed for women with coverage

The screenings are by appointment. Call Phyllis at 502-762-1410 to schedule an appointment.

Welch has also partnered with several groups to provide additional information at the health fair. They include; Norton Healthcare, Norton Cancer Institute, Passport Health Plan, Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness Department, Colon Cancer Prevention Project, Friends for Life Cancer Support, PACS Now (nutrition counseling), Lung Cancer Alliance, Hollern Chiropractic and Elderserve.

“My thanks to these groups and their willingness to help us make health care and prevention accessible to the people of District 13,” says Welch. “It is truly an important partnership.”

For more information about the Women’s health Fair, contact Councilwoman Welch’s office at 574-1113.

RAA to discuss Noise Abatement Plan Feb. 3rd

For those living with noise from the Louisville "International" Airport:

A public workshop for the Regional Airport Authority’s Noise Abatement Plan will be held tomorrow, Thursday, February 3 at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 3016 Preston Highway at 6:00p.m.

There will be a presentation, opportunities to ask questions and make comments.

SW Dream Team condemns "nay-sayers", backs Miller Trans. in zoning case

Miller Transportation is going before the Louisville Metro Planning Commission Thursday to seek a zoning change for "about 10 acres - much of it wooded" at the corner of Outer Loop and Afterglow Drive. [CJ]

The company is seeking to build a maintenance garage, an office building and 229 parking spaces, 121 for buses.

Residents of the Candlelight neighborhood have shown resistance to the plan, citing noise, fumes and drainage concerns, but another group is coming to the defense of Miller Transportation.

The Southwest Dream Team sent out the following, vaguely-worded message about the situation last week:

Louisville to Jerry: Here's your hat...what's your hurry?

- In today's Courier Journal print edition: Outgoing Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson is the subject of yet another wistful tribute. The man who has ruled Louisville for over two decades has been the focus of several "end-of-an-era" type columns lately. We, his true and trusty concubines, will seemingly be poorer in his absence. Especially since the election of the boy-king George W. Bush Greg Fischer. But fear not. Most of the Abramson crowd will be hanging around, continuing to pull the levers of government. Fischer will be a symbolic figure that stutters, stammers and jokes his way through his failed first term. May the Lord have mercy on us, for some voters knew not what they were getting.

- Volunteer Opportunity via The Local Weekly: Tax time is quickly approaching and a great organization is looking for a few good men and women to volunteer as tax preparers for the upcoming tax season. The V.I.T.A. program helps those who are unable to prepare their own tax return or cannot afford to have it done. To volunteer for V.I.T.A please call Larry at 574-3459 or Cindi at 574-3441. V.I.T.A is IRS certified and they will provide all training. If you can read and have computer experience than you can do it. This program was a massive success last year and the continuance of V.I.T.A. depends on volunteers like you!

- Whatever happens with the weather today, please do not flip out and jam on the brakes at the stoplight. If you feel like driving is just too much to handle, stay home. What the hell? You probably have some "thank you" cards to write for all that stuff you got for Christmas, and the last of the holiday wine is just sitting there...waiting.

- Oh, and your tap water is poison.

Sun Valley Health Fair

Senior citizens in Southwestern Louisville have a chance to take advantage of a special health fair provided by the Sun Valley Community Center which will get underway on Thursday, November 18th.

“This is a chance for senior citizens to get some very valuable information about healthy lifestyles,” says Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14). “The Center has gathered several different agencies and groups in one place to provide information and in some cases free screenings.”

Among the groups on hand, Humana, Gilda’s Club of Louisville, Silver Sneakers and the Department of Public Health and Wellness. The Health Fair will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

The Sun Valley Center will be providing lunch as long as reservations are made in advance. The number for the Center is 937-8802.

“For those seniors who take advantage of the health fair will also have a chance to see and learn more about the various programs offered by this great Community Center,” says Henderson. “There are many programs and activities out here for people of all ages.”

The Sun Valley Community Center is located at 6505 Bethany Lane.

For more information about the Health Fair, call the Sun Valley Community Center at 937-8802.

Coal Ash Public Forum - This Thursday!

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, part of the Energy and Environmental Cabinet, has received a special waste application from Louisville Gas and Electric, Cane Run Station located in Jefferson County. The administrative portion of the application has been deemed complete and review of the technical portion of the application has begun. This application, if approved, would expand the facility by 49.4-acres and allows the disposal of industrial wastes generated from the combustion of coal for electrical generation.

The cabinet has scheduled a public forum to be held on October 14, 2010, 6:00 p.m. at Conway Middle School, 6300 Terry Road, Louisville, Kentucky.

The purpose of this forum is to educate the public about the laws and regulations governing special waste, discuss the facility's proposal, and to answer questions concerning the proposed application. In addition to representatives from the Solid Waste Branch, State and EPA Region IV Superfund personnel will be available to discuss the Lee's Lane Landfill. The format will be question and answer in small groups, with no central meeting. The public may come anytime between 6 pm to 9pm to ask questions or receive information. It is not necessary to attend the entire length of the event. The cabinet provides, on request, reasonable accommodations necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs, and activities. To request information in an alternative format, contact Anita Young at 502-564-6716.

Tip O' the hat to my friends at The Local Weekly.

Council To Be Briefed on Cane Run Coal Ash Dump

The Energy & Environment Committee of the Louisville Metro Council will hear information about LG&E's proposed coal ash landfill expansion at Cane Run Rd. this evening. A representative from LG&E will speak for 15 minutes and a representative from the group of organizations working to stop the fill (among them being KFTC, KWA, and Sierra Club) will give a 15 minute presentation.

**This is NOT a public hearing. Council members will NOT be taking public comment at this meeting, but the public is welcome to attend and learn what's being presented. (I would certainly also encourage people, if they're able to, to attend the 6pm general Metro Council meeting. I do not know the full protocol for signing up to speak, but I do know people can call 502-574-1230 to register to address Council).**

LG&E has put forth a proposal to expand their coal waste storage at their Cane Run Rd. coal-fired power plant. This new coal ash landfill would be 60 acres large, have the capacity to hold 5.7 million cubic yards of coal ash, and reach a height of 14 stories. People living near coal ash impoundments face risk up to a 1 in 50 risk of getting cancer and risk liver, kidney, and lung damage from exposure to it. The EPA has categorized the already-standing coal ash pond as “high hazard,” meaning if a breach would likely cause human death.

To learn more about coal ash, check out KFTC's hand-out: http://www.kftc.org/publications/coal_ash_factsheet%20PDF.pdf

To get involved in this local campaign, contact Beth Bissmeyer at beth@kftc.org

Rubbertown Economic-Development Meeting

 There will be a "Rubbertown Economic-Development Meeting" at the Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway, on Thursday, June 3 from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. There is no news on why this meeting is being held on West Broadway, five miles from Rubberown. For more info contact April Jones, Louisville Metro Economic Development, 574-4140 or april.jones@louisvilleky.gov

Large Crowd Gets No Answers On LG&E Toxic Ash Landfill

The Courier Journal is reporting more than 125 people attended the public hearing on Tuesday concerning the proposed toxic coal ash landfill at LG&E's Cane Run power plant. Some of those in attendance suggested LG&E dump the waste in the east end of Louisville, a comment that drew wild applause and acutely demonstrated the sense of frustration being felt in Southwest Louisville in relation to the rest of the community. One notable quote in the paper's story:

Ron Gruzesky, environmental engineering branch manager for the state Department for Environmental Protection and the moderator of the meeting, told participants he understands there are a lot of concerns about coal-fired power plants. He said he wanted to keep the meeting focused on the proposed landfill, and was not ready to answer most questions about the proposal.

If you were in attendance, I would be interested in talking to you about your experience at this meeting. You may send me an email HERE.  All correspondence is 100% confidential.

You can read more about other toxic coal ash dumps and how they are affecting the water supplies of communities around the nation by clicking the following links:

• Michigan Messenger
• News Channel 5-Nashville
• Scientific American
• Baltimore Sun
• publicintegrity.org
• Richmond Times-Dispatch

Public Hearing Set For Cane Run Ash Dump

On Tuesday, May 25, the Kentucky Division of Waste Management will conduct a public hearing on LG&E's request to build a toxic coal ash landfill at the Cane Run power plant. The hearing will take place at 7pm at Conway Middle School.

From the Courier-Journal:

The proposed 60-acre, $54 million dump would eventually extend as high as a 14-story building in an area now largely occupied by transmission lines.

The complete Courier Journal story is HERE.
More detailed information on the dump and the hearing can be found HERE.

Kosmos Cement Wants to Burn Tires as Kiln Fuel

The following is posted at The Local Weekly:

Currently, Kosmos Cement Company uses coal as the primary fuel for operating our cement plant. To reduce our fossil fuel usage, improve the economic viability of our operations and to support Louisville Metro’s green initiatives, we are proposing to use tires (tire derived fuel: TDF) to replace up to 25% of our traditional fuels in the production process. Because we operate under a Conditional Use Permit, we are submitting an application to modify the permit to allow us to use TDF. As a result, we are hosting a public meeting with our neighbors to explain this process and the benefits it will offer, including the potential of reducing Kentucky’s tire waste stream by up to 3 million tires a year. We will also explain the permitting and approval process at that time and answer any questions you may have. The meeting will be held on: Monday, April 19th, 6PM at Farnsley Landing, 7410 Moorman Road, Louisville, KY 40272 Please feel free to contact Shannon Sherman Graves at 933-6331 regarding any questions or thoughts you may have. See you there.

I'm not an environmental expert by any means, but I think it is a little misleading to say your company wants "to support Louisville Metro's green initiatives" by burning tires. It is common knowledge that burning tires in the open is extremely harmful to human health and the natural environment. Why would it be any different in a cement kiln along with burning coal?  The fumes emitted are packed with the many toxic chemicals that tires contain, including volatile organic compounds such as benzene, metals such as lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzopyrene, and synthetic rubber components such as butadiene and styrene. Additionally, the chlorine content in tires leads to the creation of dioxins and furans (which are extremely toxic chemicals) when tires are burned.

"TDF" stands for "Tire-Derived Fuel", and it is not without serious consequences.  Look it up.  Please attend this meeting, listen politely, and tell them to shove those burning tires up their asses. Enough is enough.

LG&E's Cane Run Ash Pond : A Call To Action

This blog post was written by Jefferson County KFTC member, Beth Bissmeyer:

You might remember seeing a Jefferson County action alert about a Section 404 permit through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a 5.7 million cubic yard coal ash site about a month ago. The Army Corps received well over 100 public comments--a higher number than the Army Corps is used to seeing for this type of project! But our work is not over! E.ON has to obtain several different permits for this project and they have now applied for a 401 Water Quality Certification permit through the Kentucky Division of Water to add a 60-acre coal combustion waste (CCW) landfill adjacent to the power plant. The public comment period for this is now open and ends THIS Friday, April 16th at 4:30pm.

The current CCW pond on-site at the Cane Run Power Station is one of 44 classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as “high hazard” – meaning that a spill would result in significant damage or loss of life.

CCW is the solid waste left over from burning coal. CCW is a combination of waste from the coal plant’s air filters and the residue from coal boilers. The ashy part of the waste, called coal ash, contains concentrated pollutants, including many toxins known to cause cancer in humans.

The proposed permit would:

* allow 5.7 million cubic yards of CCW, which contains toxins known to be hazardous to human health, to be dumped on site. The U.S. EPA states that 1 in 50 adults and 1 in 100 children that live near CCW storage sites are at risk of developing cancer
* allow more than 3,000 feet of ephemeral and intermittent streams and 8 wetland areas to be filled
* allow use of an inferior containment liner that deteriorate over time, likely resulting in toxic chemicals leaching into groundwater
* ignore restoration requirements for 5 of the wetlands and require only minimal restoration for the other 3
* allow this waste to be dumped on land located at the end of the Ohio River floodwall, clearly in the river’s flood plain putting residents downstream at risk


Let the Kentucky Division of Water know that you oppose this permit!

**Please take action by April 16, 2010 deadline**

Send an email requesting that the Kentucky Division of Water to deny this permit to:

jesse.robinson@ky.gov

Put the Water Quality Certification agency interest # 2121 as the subject. Provide your physical mailing address and telephone number with your signature.

OR write to:

Mr. Jesse Robinson

Kentucky Division of Water

Water Quality Certification

200 Fair Oaks Lane

Frankfort, KY 40601

LG&E Seeking Expanded Coal Ash Pond at Cane Run

The following was copied from an environmental activist's facebook page. It is very real and is eye-opening stuff. Although the deadline for action has passed, please familiarize yourself with this issue and take a stand when you can against any more of these fragile holding ponds. Coal ash exposure puts our health at risk. The EPA estimates that up to 1 in 50 nearby residents could get cancer from exposure to contaminants in poorly stored coal ash. Other health effects may include damage to vital organs and the central nervous system, especially in children.

E.ON’s Cane Run Power Station has applied for a Section 404 permit through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add a 60-acre coal combustion waste (CCW) landfill adjacent to the power plant.

The current CCW pond on-site at the Cane Run Power Station is one of 44 classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as “high hazard” – meaning that a spill would result in significant damage or loss of life.

CCW is the solid waste left over from burning coal. CCW is a combination of waste from the coal plant’s air filters and the residue from coal boilers. The ashy part of the waste, called coal ash, contains concentrated pollutants, including many toxins known to cause cancer in humans.

The proposed permit would:

* Allow 5.7 million cubic yards of CCW, which contains toxins known to be hazardous to human health, to be dumped on site. The U.S. EPA states that 1 in 50 adults and 1 in 100 children that live near CCW storage sites are at risk of developing cancer

* Allow more than 3,000 feet of ephemeral and intermittent streams and 8 wetland areas to be filled

* Allow use of an inferior containment liner that deteriorate over time, likely resulting in toxic chemicals leaching into groundwater

* Ignore restoration requirements for 5 of the wetlands and require only minimal restoration for the other 3

* Allow this waste to be dumped on land located at the end of the Ohio River floodwall, clearly in the river’s flood plain putting residents downstream at risk


--Find out more about the impacts coal ash can have on your community and health here.
--Louisville District Corps of Engineers Public Notice No. LRL-2010-35 is available for viewing here.

Hits & Misses

- In the latest email blast from Councilman Doug Hawkins, he discusses the issue of requiring a prescription for over-the-counter drugs like Pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is a main component in the manufacture of methamphetamine, but it also a powerful decongestant used in medicines like Sudafed. As we approach spring, more and more people will be reaching for these types of medicines to treat seasonal allergies. Hawkins says he disagrees with the proposal to require a doctor's prescription for Pseudoephedrine, as do I. I think the system that monitors who is buying Pseudoephedrine and how often they buy it is effective if used correctly. This proposal essentially transfers the responsibility to the doctor to "police" the availability of these medicines, and I think that's wrong. So, Hawkins and I agree. But the reason Doug doesn't like the idea shows just how out of touch he is with his constituents. And reality.

"I oppose this resolution," says Councilman Doug Hawkins. "It does not make sense to inconvenience law abiding citizens by forcing them to go see a doctor just to receive an over the counter prescription for cold medicine. Most people right now do not have the extra money to spend on a co-pay for a doctor's visit plus a co-pay for a prescription"

For Hawkins to assume that everyone has health insurance and can just run to the doctor is alarming and shows a basic lack of understanding. It is not because people can afford the co-payments, Doug. It's because they're uninsured.

- "Chronic vandalism" could force Metro Parks to permanently close the Sylvania Community Center. [CJ]

- There are only 52 days until Derby 2010.

- In another email, this time from the David Tandy for Mayor campaign, Tandy takes credit for getting two (2) new parking garages downtown.  He will join Mayor Abramson tomorrow for a groundbreaking ceremony. Yes, for parking garages. They are really stretching it over at Tandy Headquarters. Read more:

These are the types of projects that David has worked hard to bring to Louisville as President of the Metro Council, and the type of commitment to economic development project.

I think that quote is all ye need to know about David Tandy and his campaign for Mayor. Have a nice day, and thanks for reading The Valley Report.

*Boil Water Advisory* - Windsor Forest Area

From WHAS11:

Customers are encouraged to boil all water used in cooking or drinking for three minutes and not use water from refrigerators or ice from ice machines.

Streets involved in the Boil Water Advisory Include:

Alydar Court, Arnoldtown Road, Arnoldtown Woods Road, Bambi Way, Bold Ruler Way, Clayton Terrace, Coach Way, Docks Lane, Fox Ridge Court, Gatecreek Road, Gateview Circle, Gateview Place, Hardwood Forest Drive, Hi View Lane, Hill Top Manor Road, Holiday Drive, James Hill Road, Joe Don Court, Lakeridge Drive, Lakewood Drive, Mitchell Lane, Mountain Brook Drive, Norma Lee Drive, Paralee Drive, Pine Grove Court, Princess Wood Court, Queenswood Road, Regal Pine Court, Rica Road, Rush Court, Secretariat Drive, Smarty Jones Drive, Split Rail Drive, St. Anthony Church Road, St. Anthony Woods Court, Stonecrest Drive, Sunnys Halo Court, Timber Hills Road, Twin Lakes Court, Waverly Park Road, Windsor Forest Drive, Windsor Lakes Court and Windsor Lakes Parkway.

Applications For Louisville Firefighters - Open Window

You Can Apply To Become A Firefighter Beginning December 7th!

The position of Firefighter with the Louisville Fire Department will be open for application beginning Monday, December 7, 2009. To be considered for employment, all interested persons must submit an application for employment on or before Friday, January 8, 2010.

Beginning December 7th, applications may be submitted online at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/humanresources/IWantTo/iwantto_apply.htm