Selenium pollution ruling is further proof that Kentucky doesn't need the EPA

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An on-going hearing between Kentucky's Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) over selenium pollution in Bluegrass waterways is further evidence that citizens of the commonwealth are more than capable of monitoring their own energy sector and environment - without the heavy fist of the Environmental Protection Agency.

This week, the legislative subcommittee agreed to a 30-day postponement of a ruling from the Kentucky Division of Water that would have relaxed selenium pollution rules by raising the acceptable level of selenium concentration in water and altering the way the Division of Water determines the concentration. Thanks to this postponement, state officials will be better able to assess the costs and benefits of allowing a higher concentration of selenium in Kentucky waterways.

And that's something the mid-Atlantic bureaucrats at the EPA have neither the man-on-the-spot knowledge nor the political willpower to do for the Commonwealth. They've proven this to be true with one unilateral mandate after another - whether it be blocked mining permits already approved by the commonwealth or costly regulations like the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology rules.

By their own predictions, the latter is set to cost taxpayers $10 billion per year.

As shown by the on-going hearing regarding selenium pollution, Kentuckians are plenty concerned with the state of their beautiful rolling hills and wildlife without the nanny-state do-gooders at the EPA getting involved. All these bureaucrats serve to accomplish is snuff out Kentucky's most valuable natural resource - no matter the cost to Kentucky families.