Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
State official approves sanitation district's plan

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 20, 2005) - A final order has been signed approving a Regional Facilities Plan (RFP) for Sanitation District No.1 (SD1) in northern Kentucky, including its proposed Western Region Wastewater Treatment Plant.

John Clay, deputy secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), signed the order Dec. 13 upholding a hearing officer’s recommendation to approve the RFP. Clay modified or rejected some of the hearing officer’s recommended conditions of approval.

EPPC’s Division of Water approved the plan in 2002, but its decision was appealed by six individuals and the Alliance for Kentucky’s Future Inc., a local citizens group. Two of the individuals - Donald and Marion Stites - owned the property selected by SD1 as the site for the treatment plant.

An evidentiary hearing was conducted in 2003. Earlier this year, a hearing officer recommended approval of the plan and its proposed projects, subject to assessment reports, mitigative measures and studies.

Clay’s order approved the RFP and the plan for the wastewater treatment plant with 17 additional conditions. They included a regional hydrological study, a site-specific groundwater protection plan, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, a site protection plan/mitigation plan to protect a wooded ravine along Steep Creek adjacent to the plant site and an archeological protection plan for the Donald Stites Farmstead.

Clay’s final order can be appealed by the parties to Franklin Circuit Court. Clay rendered the decision upon the recusal of EPPC Secretary LaJuana S. Wilcher.

SD1 serves 33 communities in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.