Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson Helps Fight Kentucky River Pollution

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: May 15, 2002 Source: www.launch.com Submitted By: Amanda (5/8/02, 5 p.m. ET) -- Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson, environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Eastern Kentucky University President Joanne Glasser helped launch the new Kentucky Riverkeeper program at the state's Fort Boonesborough State Park on Monday (May 6). The trio, among others, christened a boat that will be used for citizen patrols aimed at fighting pollution on the 259-mile-long Kentucky River. Illegal dumping of waste as well as runoff from coalmines, logging, and construction are among the many problems that plague the Kentucky River's water quality. "What I see makes me very sad," Richardson said at the ceremony. "We're going to make sure those responsible for polluting the water are going to pay, literally going to pay." The Kentuckian Richardson is an Estill County native who formed his own environmental foundation called Just Within Reach last year. "The quality of that water out there is unacceptable and sad," Richardson told the local Kentucky Herald-Leader newspaper. "My mother told me she used to play hooky to go play in the Kentucky River. I want my children one day to be able to play there, too." Kentucky Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization established by the Center For Appalachian Studies at Eastern Kentucky University. It is part of Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. whose mission is to protect and restore the quality of the world's waterways. -- Jason Gelman, New York Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: peto4ok Submitted by: bezdar1 Submitted by: snymrik Submitted by: cirkyl Submitted by: pasparty Submitted by: lodo4ka Submitted by: Mark Submitted by: Louise Submitted by: John Submitted by: Carol Clark Click here to see more comments. Comment on this item. Next Item: Riverkeeper program pits citizen patrols vs. polluters Prev Item: Krystal, Pollyanna & Special Guest-Volunteer Teens Concert