Public Invited to Review and Comment on Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Acorn Fork Creek Release Incidents Natural Resource Damage Assessment

The U.S. Department of the Interior, represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, represented by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, collectively known as the "Trustees," announce the release of the Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Acorn Fork Creek Release Incidents Natural Resource Damage Assessment. This document is now available for public review and comment, and we invite community members and interested parties to participate in this important process.

Summary:

The Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment outlines preferred alternatives for restoring natural resources injured by releases of hazardous substances from four gas wells in the Acorn Fork Creek watershed, Knox County, Kentucky. Chemical releases from the gas wells in May and June 2007 killed virtually all aquatic life adjacent streams, including the federally listed threatened Blackside Dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis).

In September 2021, the Trustees and the supporting Department of Justice attorney successfully negotiated a Settlement Agreement with Nami Resources Company, LLC and Vinland Energy LLC to recover damages on behalf of the American public. The Trustees have identified proposed restoration actions intended to compensate the public for the injury to and loss of natural resources resulting from the Acorn Fork Creek Release Incidents. This Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment is part of the restoration planning and environmental compliance process outlined in federal regulations. It provides details to the public regarding the natural resource injuries, the proposed restoration actions intended to compensate the public for the injuries, and an opportunity to provide public comment on the Trustees’ proposal.

The Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment proposes projects or project types, also referred to as alternatives, to meet the overarching goal of restoring, replacing or acquiring resources and services equivalent to those lost or impacted by the Acorn Fork Release Incidents. The primary injury associated with the Acorn Fork Creek Release Incidents was to Blackside Dace and sensitive aquatic invertebrates. The restoration alternatives focus on improving stream habitat in the Upper Cumberland River drainage, where Blackside Dace are native and geographically isolated. The restoration alternatives were evaluated for compliance with pre-defined evaluation criteria and environmental impacts as required by law. The Trustees invite the public to comment on the proposed alternatives.

Public Review:

This Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment is being made available to the public for review and comment via Trustee website, which can be accessed at: https://www.cerc.usgs.gov/orda_docs/CaseDetails?ID=1105

Written comments should be sent via e-mail (include "Acorn Fork Comments" in subject line) or by U.S. mail no later than November 4, 2026.
 

• By email: serena_ciparis@fws.gov
• By U.S. mail:
  Attention: Serena Ciparis
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  Virginia Field Office
  6669 Short Lane
  Gloucester, VA 23061