KRK Mission to serve as educator and citizen-based advocate for the responsible stewardship of the Kentucky River watershed and its resources for the present and future generations.

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
By: Ivy Brashear

Stream-Saver Bill still has allies

It's been a long road in Frankfort for the Stream-Saver bill, but that road continues to get shorter every year. House Bill 164 is currently in the process of being drafted so that it can be pre-filed for the 2009 legislative session.

Don Pasley, D-Winchester, is currently working with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to determine how to get the best possible press coverage for the bill.

"They (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth) have been my biggest allies in trying to get this bill passed," Pasley said.

Pasley says he has also had great support for the passage of this bill from the Kentucky Riverkeeper and other environmental groups.

"The people of central Kentucky do'’t realize that what happens with the water in eastern Kentucky affects their water here. It's important to shine a light on the problem." Pasley said.

He says that various groups, namely the Riverkeeper and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, have helped tremendously with the awareness aspect of getting the stream-saver bill passed by informing their members and the community about river issues. 

Pasley said that the bill has undergone some "minor tweaks" so that it is in accordance with the current statutes that govern such a bill. He credits Tom Fitzgerald, who works for the Kentucky Environmental Council, and whom Pasley says is an "expert in environmental law," for helping to make these necessary changes.

He said the most recent draft of the bill would be the one that is filed, stating that he wanted it to be the most up-to-date version so that it would be the most effective.

"We are trying to get people moving toward that direction (of supporting the bill)," said Pasley.

The first date that a draft of a bill can be filed will arrive in the coming months and the Kentucky Legislature begins its session at the beginning of next year.