HEBRON — The general manager of the creationist organization Answers in Genesis said Friday the water coming from the sewage treatment plant at its new museum in Boone County will be as clean as the stream it will enter.

        “Answers in Genesis and our team of professional engineers and architects have, to date, met or exceeded every requirement set before us by the governing authorities of the county and state,” wrote AiG general manager Mike Zovath on the organization's Web site, www.answersingenesis.org.

Answers in Genesis has applied to build a sewage treatment plant near the site of its museum. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        AiG has applied for a permit with the state Division of Water to build and operate a waste treatment plant on the site of its planned museum near Deck Lane and Bullittsburg Church Road. When finished, the plant will discharge into a tributary of Garrison Creek, near Ky. 20.

        “When we discharge, the stream will remain an exceptionally rated stream because of the high standards the state requires of us for our package treatment plant,” Mr. Zovath told The Kentucky Enquirer. “We want to take care of the environment; that's our home.”

        Streams that the state rates “exceptional” must meet limits for amounts of ammonia, nitrogen, chlorine, suspended solids and phosphorus.

        “There should be no (environmental) impact if (AiG) meets these limits,” said Maleva Chamberlain of the state Division of Water in Frankfort.

        Residents Mary Swiggum and Jennifer Warner are doubtful. They have opposed the museum's location and the treatment plant.

        “We can't afford to lose any more clean water,” said Ms. Swiggum, of Burlington. “We're running out of it.”

COMMENTS SOUGHT

The Kentucky Division of Water is taking comments on the application by Answers in Genesis to build a sewage treatment plant on the site of its museum near Deck Lane and Bullittsburg Church Road.     Residents may write to Kentucky Division of Water, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, Attention: Daymond Talley.     For more information, call the Division of Water at (502) 564-3410.

        Ms. Warner and her husband, Dana Kisor, own the First Farm Inn, a bed-and-breakfast on Stevens Road near Petersburg. Ms. Warner said the sewage issue was a concern when AiG applied for zoning for the museum.

        “People who live in that area pointed out (Garrison) Creek is frequently dry and that Garrison Creek has a certain amount (of wildlife),” Ms. Warner said.

        AiG is a Christian ministry that believes in the literal accuracy of the Bible, beginning with the first verse of Genesis. It has been trying to build a museum in Boone County since 1996 and broke ground this year.

        In February, AiG applied to the Division of Water for permits to build and operate the treatment plant. The state granted a draft permit, but that does not allow construction to begin.

        Boone County and the Sanitation District of Campbell and Kenton Counties, which operates sewer systems in Northern Kentucky, still have to sign off on the request. Mr. Zovath said his group had to modify the application to put in a more expensive system.

        Sanitation district general manager Jeff Eger said the district will maintain the plant.
        Mr. Eger said the sanitation district's 20-year facility plan includes no plans to extend sewer lines to the AiG site.

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