By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – A new report says the number of Kentucky surface coal mines deemed compliant with federal regulations dropped 22 percent from 2008 to 2010. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement found that as compliance levels dropped, the frequency of water pollution violations, landslides or flying rock have risen from 3 percent eleven years ago to 21 percent last year. State mining reclamation and enforcement officials say the rise in compliance issues is due to inspectors doing "a much more rigorous job of enforcement."