Kentucky officials agreed to confidential deal

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A published report says state officials agreed to keep details of a proposed oil spill deal secret, but a judge rejected the idea.

The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/1LiS1sn) reports the proposed settlement came in the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s case against Childers Oil Co. The eastern Kentucky business had been cited multiple times for contaminating a section of the Kentucky River when diesel fuel leaked on its property in Whitesburg.

The proposed agreement sought to have Childers pay the state $48,057 and include a confidentiality clause in which the cabinet would seal the settlement, keeping terms secret.

The proposal came before Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate on Sept. 18. He rejected it, citing a missing signature on the proposed agreement. In the same order, he also rejected the request for confidentiality.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.