It doesn’t take a biologist for bats to live in caves. Two facts about bats are well-known: they make caves home and inspire vigilantes.
However, federal agencies failed to examine caves for endangered bats before approving permits to build natural gas pipelines in Kentucky.
Monday’s announcement by two environmental groups indicated that they will sue the federal government over the Bullitt County Pipeline permit. The proposed pipeline was not fully considered the impact on endangered bat species.
In 2017, Louisville Gas and Electric was granted permission by utility regulators to construct the 12-mile-long pipeline. The utility claimed that the pipeline would be a catalyst for development in the communities of Clermont, Mount Washington, Lebanon Junction, and Shepherdsville.
The Proposed routeThe pipeline would pass through Bernheim Arboretum’s Research Forest and Conservation Lands. The pipeline would cross nearly 40 acres worth of forest, and it would also cross at least six major waterways that could have an impact on wetlands, sinkholes, and habitat for more then a dozen endangered or threatened species. This is according to an LG&E stormwater pollution prevention plan.
LG&E has received several major permits for construction. Federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are two examples. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Center for Biological Diversity, and the Kentucky Resources Council, alleged that federal agencies did not conduct sufficient research to determine how the pipeline would affect habitat for Indiana bats.
This is because no one ever conducted a scientifically sound search for caves. Perrin De Jong, Center for Biological Diversity staff lawyer, stated that this is the problem.
Cedar Creek is one of the waterways Bernheim Arboretum says would be impacted by construction of LG&E’s natural gas pipeline.
LG&E employed an independent contractor for environmental assessment of the proposed pipeline. De Jong said the federal agencies based their approval on that contractor’s conclusions.
According to Cardnos records Cardno conducted a survey on threatened and endangered species, which included the bats. However, he never conducted a cave survey. That’s it. Despite the fact that sinkholes and caves are quite common in Kentucky, Karstenvironment and provide a vital winter habitat for all three endangered bat species.
According to Cardnos records the report did state that no caves were found during field surveys. Ashley WiIlmes, Director of Kentucky Resources Council, says that the visual survey was insufficient and that the federal government did not meet its legal obligations under Endangered Species Act.
Wilmes stated that the rubber stamping of this pipeline project was particularly concerning because LG&Es plans, which will clear-cut trees and impact water resources, as well as the destruction of bat habitat, within the Cedar Grove Wildlife Corridor, are primarily for benefit of the Jim Beam Distillery.
Cardno also noted sinkholes along the corridor in 2017 in a separate report. He also described the impacts on a smaller, threatened species, the small white flower called the “The Little White Flower.” Kentucky glade cress.
[T]This area’s soils were seen as thin, bare (nonexistent) in several areas. The report stated that many locations contained exposed rock layers within and near sinkholes.
A spokesperson for Corps. Engineers stated that they don’t comment on potential litigation but that the agency is committed towards balancing development with environmental protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t immediately respond to a request.
De Jong stated that the environmental groups had decided to give a notice of 60 days to the federal agencies before they filed the lawsuit in the hope that they would recognize their mistakes and correct them.
We hope that the Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps will recognize our mistakes. He stated that the Corps of Engineers will acknowledge the mistakes they made. Also, properly analyze the data to ensure that endangered bat species in the area are protected from harm.
A spokesperson for LG&E stated that the company is committed to protecting the environment, and will work to minimize the environmental impacts of the construction and operation.
After a thorough review, U.S. According to Chrs Whelan (LG&E spokesperson), Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the project would not endanger threatened or endangered species.
Beam Suntory was the original maker of Jim Beam bourbon in 2015. LG&E asked for additional natural gas suppliesTo expand operations at its Clermont flagship site, but not to pay for a new pipeline. According to a timelineKevin Smith, who was then the vice president of public affairs at Beam-Suntory, assembled the collection.
The proposed route for the pipeline on Bernheim property.
Instead, Louisville Gas and Electric applied for and received approval from utility regulators in 2017 for the construction of the pipeline through Bullitt County, at ratepayers’ expense.
LG&E states that the pipeline is intended to fuel and serve growth in Northern Bullitt County. Court recordsJim Beam, of Beam Suntory, would receive most of the gas load over the first five-years.
