Emily Tolliver, emily@kyrc.org, 859-619-9779
FRANKFORT, KY -- On Tuesday, March 4, at 11:00 am advocates will hold a press conference outlining the dangers of Senate Bill 89 (SB 89), legislation that would dismantle long-standing water protections and threaten clean water access for Kentuckians. Subject matter experts from Kentucky Resources Council (KRC), Sierra Club Kentucky and Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) will highlight how SB 89 will impact waterways and community members will share their concerns, underlining the importance of safe water for constituents. The bill will be read before the Natural Resources & Energy committee on Thursday.
WHAT: Press Conference Opposing SB 89
When: Tuesday, March 4, 11 a.m.
Where: River Row Boathouse, 608 Hawkins Drive Frankfort, KY 40601
WHO:
- Silas House, Kentucky Poet Laureate and New York Times bestselling author, Speaker
- Ashley Wilmes, Executive Director, Kentucky Resources Council, Moderator
- Michael Washburn, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Executive Director, Speaker
- Audrey Ernstberger, Legislative Attorney, Kentucky Resources Council, Speaker
- Madison Mooney, LiKEN, Impacted Community Representative, Speaker
WHY: Senate Bill 89 threatens 75 years of water protections, putting many Kentucky’s groundwater, as well as many headwaters and wetlands at risk of pollution. With alarms raised by the state’s own Energy and Environment Cabinet, this bill could have far-reaching consequences for drinking water, public health, and flood resilience — issues that impact every Kentuckian.
VISUALS: Reporters can expect to see environmental experts and advocates speaking about the impacts of SB 89 with the Kentucky River as a backdrop. The event will include brief remarks, opportunities for questions and interviews, and visuals of attendees showing support for clean water protections.
BACKGROUND: SB 89 would strip protections for Kentucky's groundwater, headwater ephemeral streams, and many wetlands, increasing pollution risks, raising water treatment costs, and exacerbating flood risks for communities across the Commonwealth–including drinking water of more than one million Kentuckians. In a letter to Representative Jim Gooch, Chair of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the Secretary of Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet expressed the state’s “grave concerns” about the bill, stating that it “threatens the water quality of many Kentucky rivers, streams, and tributaries and, as a result, would significantly compromise Kentucky’s groundwater, impacting the water quality of more than 31,000 private use wells and at least 156 public water systems.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.