Bluegrass Defenders Deploy More Tools to Stop Pipeline

The best chance for stopping toxic fracking waste from poisoning Central Kentucky is the bill filed by State Senator Jimmy Higdon to close the eminent domain loophole. But activists aren't confining their efforts to drumming up legislative support for the bill.

Greg Kocher at the Herald:

Opponents of the Bluegrass Pipeline hope to use an existing tool in their favor: local zoning ordinances.

Citizens and officials in a couple of counties are discussing the possibility of inserting additional language into zoning laws to protect themselves from the impact of natural gas liquids pipelines such as the one proposed by Williams Co. and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, the two energy firms that want to build the Bluegrass Pipeline.

Tom FitzGerald, an attorney with the Kentucky Resources Council, will discuss regulation through zoning Monday night with members of the Pendleton County Joint Planning Commission in Northern Kentucky.

"I will be talking about the range of authority that counties have, and I will be presenting my recommendations that could be taken to get out ahead of proposed pipelines," he said.

Find out more here.