Model ordinance for development on karst terrain: Kentucky, USA

摘要

Until the recent economic slowdown, development in rural areas was increasing at a rapid rate in Kentucky and resulting in development pressure on less desirable lands, including large areas of karst land. Most damage caused by karst geologic hazards is from ground-water pollution, cover-collapse sinkholes, and sinkhole flooding. The economic costs of karst-related geologic hazards have been estimated to be $20 million annually in Kentucky. The Kentucky Geological Survey drafted a model ordinance to guide development in karst for the purpose of reducing economic and environmental losses from karst geohazards. The text of the ordinance provides a wide range of ideas for planning and zoning agencies to adopt as needed. The final draft of the model ordinance was completed in the fall of 2008 and went through a thorough technical and editorial review, both internally at KGS and among other karst researchers. An effort was made to find an attorney to volunteer time to review the document, but we were not successful.