Democratic Rep. Rachel Roarx offered a successful amendment that would allow Louisville authorities to issue fines when industries self-report if there is a pattern of violations over five years. (LRC Public Information)
Kentucky lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would prevent Louisville’s air pollution authority from issuing fines against industries that self-disclose violations of federal pollution regulations.
Jared Bauman
Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, on the House floor reiterated his reasoning for House Bill 136 by saying it would bring industries in Jefferson County into the same “environment and audit privilege” as those in the rest of the state.
House Bill 136 , would bring the Louisville Air Pollution Control District (APCD) under a state law that allows industrial polluters to avoid civil penalties if they self-report air pollution violations and rectify the issue. Air pollution is regulated by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet through that legal framework in all counties except Jefferson County, which is regulated separately by the APCD. HB 136 would put the APCD under that state framework.