FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 7, 2005) – Old landfills that formerly served nine Kentucky cities and counties have been added to a priority list for state funding of assessment and eventual remediation.

In addition, eight other public landfills will get on-site leachate collection systems, overseen and financed by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC).

EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher recently sent notification letters to local government officials.

"The assessment of these old landfills is the first step in addressing public health and safety concerns posed by these sites," said Wilcher.  "The eventual cleanup of these sites will help us to achieve a safe and healthy environment - a top priority of the cabinet and the Fletcher administration."

Latest landfill sites designated for assessment, design and remediation action are:

• FIVCO in Carter County
• Jacks Creek Pike in Fayette County
• Briar Hill in Scott County
• Glover Farm in Jessamine County
• Landfills for Marshall and Trigg counties and for the cities of Franklin, Fulton and Leitchfield.
• Leachate collection and treatment systems will be constructed at landfills in Bullitt, Johnson, Marion and Mercer counties and city landfills in Bowling Green, Cynthiana, Olive Hill and Richmond.

The projects are being carried out under the Kentucky Pride Program, created by the General Assembly through House Bill 174 in 2002. The legislation provides for the state to assist with costs of closure and remediation of inactive city and county solid-waste landfills that ceased accepting waste before 1992, when more stringent waste laws took effect.

These projects are funded in part by an environmental remediation fee of $1.75 per ton. The fee is paid by generators of waste disposed at municipal solid waste landfills. Work at historic landfills also is funded with proceeds from a $25 million bond issue.

The EPPC previously designated eight landfill sites, mostly in eastern Kentucky, as in immediate need of remediation: the Floyd, Harlan, Letcher and Perry county landfills and the Barbourville, Campbellsville, Manchester and Winchester city landfills.

In addition, the cabinet is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to investigate landfill sites at Bardwell, Owensboro and Trigg County.

Costs of individual projects will be contingent on results of assessments.