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Carter, KY

Low Risk (25/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Carter in Kentucky · Population: 26,515

TRI sites such as The Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp - Grayson; SDWIS systems such as RATTLESNAKE RIDGE WATER DISTRICT; GRAYSON UTILITY COMMISSION; OLIVE HILL MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS anchor Carter, KY's EPA extract. Derived burden score 25/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Carter include RATTLESNAKE RIDGE WATER DISTRICT; OLIVE HILL MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS, while The Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp - Grayson leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 37 / peak 62 in 2024.

Burden score 25/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Carter -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Carter, KY: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+16.0%

1 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+16.0%

171.6 thousand lb → 199.1 thousand lb, every facility that filed

  • Carter, KY's total reported releases rose from 171.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 199.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Carter, KY's off-site transfers rose from 1.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.9 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Carter, KY's water releases rose from 170.1 thousand lb in 2022 to 197.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
26,515
TRI Facilities
1
Water Systems
3
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
1.0M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 321 (89%) 39 0 62
2023 284 (78%) 78 1 153
2022 293 (81%) 68 0 71
2021 252 (90%) 27 0 86
2020 273 (96%) 12 0 64
2024 Good Air Quality: 89% of days
Median AQI: 37

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Kentucky, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (3)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
RATTLESNAKE RIDGE WATER DISTRICT 11,397 11
GRAYSON UTILITY COMMISSION 10,950 0
OLIVE HILL MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS 6,192 9

TRI Facilities (1)

# Facility Total Releases
1 The Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp - Grayson 1.0M lbs

Cities in Carter (2)

Grayson
1 facilities · 2 water
Olive Hill
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Carter, Kentucky? ▼
Carter, KY has an environmental risk score of 25/100 (Low Risk), based on 1 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 3 water systems on record. 2 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Carter? ▼
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Carter, KY in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Carter? ▼
Carter, KY has 1 TRI-reporting facility on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 1.0M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Carter? ▼
In 2024, Carter, KY recorded a median AQI of 37 and a peak AQI of 62. 89% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Carter? ▼
Carter, KY has 3 EPA-regulated water systems. 2 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Carter? ▼
Environmental compliance in Carter, Kentucky is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Kentucky state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro