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Public comment sought on oil and gas development in Kentucky

Meetings will be held in Hazard, Somerset and Madisonville

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 9, 2015) — The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and its agencies will hold three public meetings to give interested parties an opportunity to express their opinions on oil and gas development and production in Kentucky. The meetings will be held in Hazard, Somerset and Madisonville at dates and times to be determined.

kentucky_seal_resized2Representatives from the cabinet’s Department for Natural Resources, including the Division of Oil and Gas, and the Department for Environmental Protection will be on hand at the meetings. EEC Secretary Len Peters stressed the format of the meetings will allow for brief spoken comments by those wishing to speak and the submittal of written comments.

Remarks made at the meetings will be captured on video and used in a report to be given to the oil and gas workgroup, made up of environmental interests, industry representatives, and regulators. The workgroup has been meeting to update and modernize Kentucky’s statutes and regulations regarding all areas of oil and gas exploration, including fracking. The report will also be made available to members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office for possible further action.

The report will help further the work of the oil and gas workgroup, according to Secretary Peters. “The input from the general public is extremely valuable as this group moves forward. We want to be certain future legislation addressing oil and gas exploration, especially fracking, takes into account all points of view.”

An announcement of the locations, dates and times of the three public meetings will be made in the coming weeks.