Environment

Kentucky politicians have been lining up to praise a judge’s decision earlier this week to overturn the new way the Environmental Protection Agency has been evaluating coal mining permits. The EPA was sued by the National Mining Association and several individual states, including Kentucky. But the ruling could have few practical implications for the coal industry.

Land Between the Lakes’ target range is closing down Wednesday mornings to clean up. The closure at the Golden Pond range is in effect until further notice. Recreation Program Manager Gary Hawkins said the range is popular with visitors, but workers need time to mow and pick up trash and leftover shells. Officials are asking the public to help out by disposing of litter and spent shells. LBL said the target range was updated in 2010 and is almost twice as long as before. The archery range will remain open.

A new pest threatens Kentucky’s hardwood trees.  This one is called the Asian Longhorned Beetle and has destroyed tens of thousands of trees in the northeastern United States, Ohio and Illinois.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission will hold public hearings next month in Paducah and Henderson to get input on a proposal raising rates for Big Rivers Electric Corporation customers. Big Rivers wants to spend about $284 million to comply with new federal environmental requirements affecting utilities that burn coal to generate electricity.

The final chance to comment on budget cut suggestions at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area ends on Wednesday. For the past four months, LBL officials have sought public comment on how to cope with a nearly $850 thousand cut to the park maintenance budget. The park starts implementing some of the money-saving suggestions in August.

Kentucky agriculture is still reeling from a one-two punch of heat and dry conditions. And farmers are feeling the pain from the prospects of shrinking income and inflated expenses caused by weather-related setbacks. Corn fields are shriveled, especially here in western Kentucky where the dry spell has been worst. Poultry farmers are being hit with higher grain prices to feed birds. And pastures turned to stubble are forcing cattle producers to dip into hay reserves. State Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said it is a disaster affecting every segment of agriculture.