Kentucky Foresters Aid Firefighting Efforts in Texas
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The Texas Mays Fire in San Saba County consumed more than 9,800 acres. Photo by Matthew Whelan, Texas A&M Fire Service. 
Engine Operator Terry Stamper, a Forest Ranger Tech III, works to suppress any heat remaining from a fire in Texas. Known as “mopping up,” this a crucial part of maintaining the containment of a fire. Photo by Kristian Pickering. 
Kentucky Division of Forestry crews hike the mountainous terrain in the Texas heat. Photo by Lem Johnson. 
Dozer crews work to contain the Park Fire, a fire that consumed 580 acres in Texas. Photo by Kristian Pickering.
UST Branch “Soil Mixing”
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Energy and Environment Cabinet staff and a team of contractors stand at the site of a petroleum spill in Sonora, Ky. The crew employed a technique called “soil mixing” to rehabilitate the site. Photo by the Energy and Environment Cabinet. 
The Sammy’s Market site prior to cleanup. 
An aerial photo of the work site taken on Dec. 20, 2019. 
An aerial photo of the work site taken on Feb. 6, 2020.
Frankfort Centralized Lab
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A chemist works in the DEPS lab. 
Frankfort Centralized Laboratory. 
Chemist Keith Ewing works in the DEPS lab. 
Chemist Tamara Bumgardner works in the DEPS lab. 
Chemist Jessica White works in the DEPS lab. 
DEPS Assistant Director Michael Goss gives a tour of the lab.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
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Alexandra Blevins sprays/marks hemlock tree indicating that it has had a second treating. 
Kentucky’s Champion Trees
The champion Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), located in Daviess county, was originally nominated in 1954. It measures 283 inches in circumference and 62 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 51 feet. 
The co-champion Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii), located in Clay City, was nominated in 2014. It measures 313 inches in circumference and 117 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 100.5 feet. 
The champion Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), located in Harrison County, was nominated in 2006. It measures 311 inches in circumference and 76 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 69 feet. 
The co-champion Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria), located in Louisville, was nominated in 2014. It measures 178 inches in circumference and 130 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 90 feet. 
The champion Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), located in Lexington, was nominated in 2016. It measures 174 inches in circumference and 86 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 57 feet. 
The champion Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), located in Jefferson County, was nominated in 2009. It measures 208 inches in circumference and 82 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 72.5 feet. 
The champion River birch (Betula nigra), located in Buckhorn Lake State Park, was nominated in 2017. It measures 219 inches in circumference and 145 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 102.5 feet. 
The champion American basswood (Tilia americana), located in Lexington Cemetery, was nominated in 2012. It measures 276 inches in circumference and 102 feet in height. Its average crown spread is approximately 85.5 feet. 
Located at the Masonic Homes of Kentucky, this champion Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) was nominated in 2013. It measures 282 inches in circumference and 90 feet in height. The tree’s average crown spread is approximately 82.5 feet.
2019 Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely speaks during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
From left: Gwen Pinson, Michael Schmitt and Robert Cicero of the Kentucky Public Service Commission participate in a discussion during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Robert Cicero speaks during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely speaks during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Awards are displayed on a table during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Commissioner Tony Hatton speaks during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Mary Walker, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region Four Administrator, shares national priorities during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter, EEC 
Mary Walker, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region Four Administrator, shares national priorities during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter, EEC 
From left: Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely, Sen. Brandon Smith, Kentucky Resources Council Director Tom Fitzgerald, Rep. Jim Gooch, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Policy Development Kate Shanks and EEC Deputy Secretary Bruce Scott discuss legislative issues during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Policy Development Kate Shanks and Energy and Environment Cabinet Deputy Secretary Bruce Scott participate in a panel about legislative issues during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely moderates a panel about legislative issues during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Sen. Brandon Smith discusses a bill to address litter in Kentucky during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Energy and Environment Cabinet Deputy Secretary Bruce Scott participates in a panel discussion during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely moderates a panel about legislative issues during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely speaks during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency General Counsel Matt Leopold discusses the Trump administration’s focus on deregulation during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC 
From left: Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely, Sen. Brandon Smith, Kentucky Resources Council Director Tom Fitzgerald, Rep. Jim Gooch, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Policy Development Kate Shanks and EEC Deputy Secretary Bruce Scott discuss legislative issues during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, Ky. Sept. 20, 2019. Photo by Kirsten Delamarter/EEC
Streamside Field Days, Fall 2019
2018 Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment
Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton, Tom Fitzgerald and Secretary Charles Snavely. 
Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton 
The Energy panel led by Secretary Snavely. 
Bob Scott led the Abandoned Mine Lands and Economic Development discussion. 
Steve Winberg. 
Peter Goodmann leads the Clean Water Act Panel. 
The legislative panel. 
Kentucky Governor, Matt Bevin 
Gov. Matthew Bevin.
2018 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award
Mud and debris wash down into Hardburly affecting homes and causing evacuations. 
A before aerial shot shows the Phase I drainage ditch that diverts water from accessing the slide area and stop further damage to homes. 
Aerial photo of slide area during reclamation. 
Slide area during reclamation. 
Slide area after reclamation. 
Slide area during reclamation. 
Hazard AML Emergency Branch Employees involved in the Joan Bernat Slide. From left to right: Wally Barger, Environmental Control Manager, Duane Bates, Environmental Scientist, Ray Shepherd, Environmental Scientist, Charles Booth, Environmental Scientist, Jim Cable, Environmental Control Supervisor. 
KY Division of Abandoned Mine Lands employees pictured left to right: Justin Adams, Tim Rader, Samantha Johnson, Lauren Meighan, Adam Humphrey and Ben Enzweiler attended the Awards Banquet at the NAAMLP National Conference in Williamsburg, VA recently.
Masterson Station seedlings are prepared for volunteers to plant in 2001. 
A family signs up to plant trees at Masterson Station in 2001. 
An aerial view of the 2000 planting at Masterson Station. 
Masterson Station trees in 2008. 
The area around the creek at Masterson Station in 2018. 
The trail today where the seedlings were planted in 2000 and 2001 at Masterson Station.
A DMRE site’s that would require an employee walking without use of the drone. 
Reclaimed AML site in Floyd County. 
A drone’s view of an active AML site in Pike County. 
A drone takes flight at a DMRE site. 
Emily Lawson of DMRE ‘spots’ the drone while in flight. 
Ben Enzweiler manually lands the drone.
KY EXCEL Open House, June 2018
The Catlettsburg Refinery, LLC, display table which featured various projects they have completed through the years. Photo by Carrie Searcy. 
Scott Southall with CDP Engineers out of Lexington, spoke during one of the sessions. Photo by Carrie Searcy. 
Dorothy Rader with Ky. American Water speaks with Robyn Whitted of DCA. Photo by Elizabeth McNulty. 
Vendors and visitors talk in the exhibit hall. Photo by Elizabeth McNulty. 
The Division of Compliance Assistance manages the KY EXCEL program. Their table is pictured in the exhibit hall. Photo by Carrie Searcy. 
Visitors explore the exhibit hall. Photo by Elizabeth McNulty. 
Robyn Whitted makes a presentation during a session. Photo by Elizabeth McNulty.
Youth Summit, May 2018
Mercer County Senior High School student explain their Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools water quality project to students from White_s Tower Elementary School. 
Chad Von Gruenigren from the Kentucky Division of Water talks macroinvertebrates with students from Tichenor Middle School. 
Keynote speaker Jeri Katherine Howell praises the students on the positive impact of their projects on their schools and the communities where they are located. 
Robyn Whitted discusses the KY EXCEL program with students from the Shepherdsville Elementary School. 
Students and faculty from duPont Manual High School who completed all 9 Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools categories to qualify as a model Green and Healthy School for the 2017-2018 . 
Students from Redwood Cooperative School who completed both a Kentucky NEED project as well as a Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools project in a single school year. 
Students from Anne Mason Elementary School Explain their Kentucky NEED Energy project to a teacher from White_s Tower Elementary School.
Earth Day 2018
An almost invisible water bug is shown. 
C 
2018 “Capture the Earth” Contest
Tyler Newman won the native Kentucky plants with his ‘Purple Aster.’ 
Moss’s entry taken on her family farm, Mosslanding. 
Elizabeth Johnson won the Kentucky waterways category with her photo, ‘Blue.’ 
Freeman’s photo of Shanty Hollow Lake in Bowling Green, Ky. 
Maeve Draper won the native landscape category with her photo, ‘Early Morning Snow.’ 
Chris Oelschlager’s macrophotography/close-up winning photo, ‘Spotted Cucumber Beetle on Sunflower.’ 
Chris Oelschlager’s native Kentucky wildlife winning photo, ‘Great Blue Heron.’ 
Chris Oelschlager’s nature in the city with her photo ‘Sunrise at Madisonville City Park.
Reforest Frankfort, April 2018
A family picks a spot to plant at Josephine Sculpture Park. 
Many families joined in on the fun and set a great example for their little ones. 
Many trees had already been planted shortly after the event began. 
Reforest the Bluegrass, April 2018
Volunteers plant seedlings in loosened soil. 
Kathy Page and Carina Vaughn of DMRE work in the cold to plant trees. 
The Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement employees were out in full force to plant seedlings. 
Some of the Division of Abandoned Mine Lands employees also braved the weather to help plant trees. 
Cold temperatures didn’t deter employees from the Division of Mine Permits from lending a helping hand.
2018 Jim Claypool Art and Conservation Writing Contest
Caroline Carwile’s artwork. 
Evie Robertson accepts her award. 
Wolfenbarger’s winning entry. 
Kylie Jenkin’s award winning artwork. 
Sophie receives her award. 
Marybeth Miller’s award winning artwork. 
Max Comings. 
Anna Carwile (center) receives her award.. 
Hailey Webb’s artwork. 
Hailey Webb receives her award. 
Khaled Khalaf’s artwork. 
Khaled Khalaf receives his award. 
Abigail McCowan’s artwork. 
Carli Conley’s winning artwork. 
Carli Conley receives her award. 
Camryn Roark’s winning artwork. 
Kylie Jackson and her award winning essay. 
Essie Guerra receives her award. 
Cam Lich receives his award. 
Lydia Naberhaus receives her award. 
Cole Edwards receives his award.
Preparing the Capital Plaza Tower for Safe Demolition
View of roofless Convention Center. 
Holes punched in building corners will aid in final demolition. 
15th floor, deconstructed. 
13th floor hallway. 
13th floor hallway. 
First floor office entry. 
First floor. 
Empty first floor. 
Sunlight in lobby. 
Lobby elevators. 
Lobby entryway. 
Former front desk area. 
Abandoned sign. 
Basement walls. 
Saw blade. 
The 15th floor stairwell. Photo by Roberta Burnes. 
The hallway in the Mezzanine shows the signs of salvage. Photo by Roberta Burnes. 
Mero Street Entrance shows the remnants of the Tower. Photo by Roberta Burnes. 
Samples taken from tile revealed no asbestos 
Inspecting boiler insulation. Photo by Roberta Burnes. 
Holes punched in sides of building will aid in demolition. Photo by Roberta Burnes. 
Remains of the 15th floor. Photo by Roberta Burnes.
Braving the Weather for Air Data
Jeff Patton works on the snowy deck with an air monitor. Photo by Joe Boggs. 
Joe Boggs trudges through the snow. Photo by Jeff Patton. 
Joe Boggs works with the PM sampler on a warmer day. Photo by Roberta Burnes.
Division of Forestry Seedlings, December 2017
Morgan County nursery main entrance sign. 
John P. Rhody Nursery sign. 
Persimmon at one of the nurseries. 
Oakbed at one of the nurseries. 
Walnut bed. 
One of the seedlings from the KDF nurseries. 
Rhodyash in one of the KDF nurseries. 
Black Walnut and bur oak being planted by hand. 
Region office contact information.
Land, Air & Water 