Environmental Decision-Making: Encouraging Meaningful Public Engagement and Advancing Environmental Justice

Every year, federal and state agencies issue thousands of permits and authorizations in Kentucky, allowing pollutants to be discharged into our rivers and streams, emitted into our air, and disposed of on land. The Kentucky Public Service Commission makes decisions impacting monthly electric bills, closure of coal-fired power plants, and clean energy. The public has the right to participate in these processes and a role in holding polluters and regulators accountable, which is critical to success in protecting public health and the environment. Yet, in Kentucky, few permits or regulatory actions receive any public review or comment, and even fewer are ever challenged. This convocation will explore the legal landscape for public engagement in environmental decision-making, and why more meaningful public involvement is needed to ensure a healthier environment for all Kentuckians.