Environmental affairs were the subject of discussion on March 5th and 6th during the Kentucky Chamber Environmental Conference, held in Lexington.  The conference format was more complex this year with multiple breakout session and a lot more topics, covered in depth.  SMG was deeply involved in the conference with Scott Smith serving on the planning committee.  Scott also teamed with Pete Goodmann from the Kentucky Division of Water to discuss better ways of improving water quality and the TMDL process.  The subject was timely as a bill was pending in the Legislature that would help clarify the TMDL process.

Karen Thompson and Sara Smith worked with Division of Waste Management leaders, Tony Hatton and Shawn Cecil to explain the process of obtaining concurrence from the state of the bone fide purchaser exemption.  SMG recently worked through the statute (KRS 224.01-415) and the procedures now being developed to obtain that assurance for a client.  The presentation was designed to be a conversation about how the state could develop permissive regulations to assist buyers or owners with these sticky liability issues associated with potentially contaminated property.

Participants in sessions about water, compliance, air and the direction EPA seems to be heading were engaged and full of questions and comments.  The Chamber staff and members should be pleased with how well the conference was conducted and received.