(Staff photo/JULIA R GOAD)
Tim Bradley and Tim Prichard, both employees of Cheyenne Resources # 9 mine were on hand for Gov. Beshear’s visit to Pike County. “I think he’s smart, he will be good for coal,” Bradley said. Although the coal industry is experiencing tough economic times, Cheyenne has not had to cut hours or lay off employees. “We have smart management to thank for that,” Bradley said.
Beshear explained the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (OMSL) will hire 15 mine inspectors, while the Division of Mine permits (DMP) will add 19 employees to its office.
“The coal mining industry is vital to Kentucky and to the country,” Beshear said. “During this, the worst recession we have ever seen, Kentuckians know that we must come together and work together.”
The governor was in Pike County as one of three stops he made in Eastern Kentucky to announce the additional personnel.
Recent increases in mining regulations has put a heavy workload on the OMSL, which made the additional inspectors crucial to the department.
“With these additional regulations, we need more help right away or we can’t meet our objectives,” Beshear said. “Mining is one of the most perilous jobs in the country, and Kentucky’s 17,000 miners need to be kept safe.”
He went on to explain the OMSL keeps miners safe not only by inspecting mines for safety, but also organizing mine rescue teams that are ready in the event of a mine disaster.
“These additional employees will not only help with our efforts to complete the number of required inspections, but will also enhance our nationally recognized mine rescue team capabilities and response,” the governor said.
Resolutions passed by the Floyd and Martin counties’ fiscal courts enable the 15 safety inspectors, who perform both safety inspections and mine rescue, to be funded through the Multi-County Local Government Economic Development Fund through Memoranda of Agreement among the Department for Local Government, Energy and Environment Cabinet and Floyd County.
Gov. Beshear has also signed an emergency regulation that allows for assessments on new mine permit applications. The additional funding is expected to raise an estimated $800,000 with an equal federal match that will be used to pay for 19 additional employees in the Division of Mine Permits.
The employees at the DMP will help expedite the permitting process so companies can obtain the necessary permits faster, Beshear said.
“Because of budgetary restraints and retirements with the DMP, permits were not being issued quickly,” he said. “This legislation will get these permits out the door faster, and get our miners to work.”
Beshear said Kentucky is looking forward in its approach to coal and to energy.
“We must be smart about how we operate,” he said. “A year ago, I implemented a seven point energy strategy that included coal-to-liquid, coal-to-gas and carbon capture and sequestration. My goal for 2025 is to have four billion gallons of liquid fuel made from 50 million tons of coal, to have coal-to-gas meet 100 percent of the state’s gas needs.”
Gov. Beshear said the time has come to use research into new technologies to move coal forward.
“The world is changing,” he said. “Coal is and will always be a critical part of every strategy. He have the opportunity to create 10,000 new jobs if we apply what we have learned to a framework of 21st century technologies. Kentuckians always rise to the occasion, and now there is too much at stake not to do that.”
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