mining

Tar Sands Mining to Begin This Summer in Logan County, Kentucky

Erica Peterson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:14:16 +0000

Later this summer, a company plans to open a surface mine in southern Kentucky. But the operation won’t be mining for coal. Instead, they’re seeking to extract a new natural resource in the commonwealth: tar sands.

Tar sands mining in Canada has sparked protests, both there and in the United States. Environmental groups have pointed to water and air pollution from the operation, as well as increased greenhouse gas emissions from mining and processing the heavy tar sands.

Madisonville to House the Nation's Fourth Emergency Response Hub

Angela Hatton — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:22:21 +0000

Madisonville will house the nation’s fourth Mine Safety and Health Administration emergency response center.

MSHA’s Kevin Stricklin says the new center starts operations in early spring. Stricklin says having those capabilities in Madisonville reduces mining disaster response time in the Midwest by around eight hours.

Hanson Mining Ordinance Under Review

Angela Hatton — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:38:08 +0000

The Hopkins County Joint Planning Commission is reviewing the city of Hanson’s laws to allow mining within city limits. The city passed an ordinance in 1990 banning mining. But Mayor Charles Young says Alliance Coal has purchased land within city limits, and the city commission wants to allow them to use the land for underground mining.

Ky. mine operators owe $29M in delinquent fines

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:50:07 +0000

A published report says Kentucky coal operators owe more in delinquent fines to federal authorities for mine safety violations than any other state. The Louisville Courier-Journal reports the finding from an analysis of records from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. Records show Kentucky mine operators owe MSHA just over 29 million dollars, 40 percent of the total seventy-three and a half million owed to the agency in mine safety fines.