Not an Unreasonable Request...
- ProtectMcCrackenCounty
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Superfund site has active groundwater contamination plumes — Technetium-99, PFAS, and trichloroethylene — that are still migrating and not under control. Construction on the adjacent GLE site could accelerate that migration, disturb contaminated soil, and interfere with the pump-and-treat systems that have been running continuously since the mid-1990s to keep that contamination from reaching the Ohio River.
No agency — not the NRC, EPA, DOE, or Commonwealth of Kentucky — is required to study that risk before a shovel goes in the ground.
That is what we are fighting to change. Our most immediate ask is straightforward: Require an independent study by a qualified hydrogeologist to assess how construction and industrial water use on GLE's 665-acre parcel could affect the direction, speed, and composition of those active contamination plumes before any permits are issued.
This is not an unreasonable request. It is the minimum due diligence any responsible public body should require before approving industrial development adjacent to one of the most contaminated Superfund sites in the country.
Join Us Tonight:
We are hosting a live stream community Q&A tonight, Thursday, June 5th from 6–8 p.m. We will discuss what we know, where we go from here, and what you can do to help. Bring your questions.
Here Are Other Ways to Help
Attend the June 11 and 12 community education meetings. These meetings are part of the formal process to designate McCracken County as a Nuclear-Ready Community. Your presence matters.
Session 1 | Session 2 |
Thursday, June 11 | Friday, June 12 |
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. |
Held at the Paducah-McCracken Co. Convention and Expo Center | |
Speak during public comment. Don't just attend — speak. Visit www.ProtectMcCrackenCounty.com for a prep guide and fact sheet you can bring with you.
Amplify on social media. Share our posts, tag your neighbors, and spread the word to community groups. The more people who know what is happening, the harder it becomes to ignore.
Share with your community. Pass our website and blog posts along to your church, civic organization, neighborhood group, or anyone else who has a stake in the future of this county.
Write a letter. A flood of individual letters to Judge Executive Craig Clymer and the McCracken County Planning Commission carries real weight. Templates and guidance are available at www.ProtectMcCrackenCounty.com.
Connect us with experts and allies. We need journalists, researchers, academics, and advocacy organizations covering environmental, nuclear, or public health issues. We also urgently need a referral to a qualified hydrogeologist or environmental engineer with no financial interest in this project. If you know someone, please reach out.
This is your community. Thank you for helping protect it.
