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Kentucky Coal
Facts

Prepared by the
Kentucky Coal Council
and the
Kentucky Coal Association

8

* Highlights
Electricity
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 4.3 cents/kilowatt-hour in 2002, the lowest in
the United States.

Production
Kentucky produced 131.4 million tons of coal in 2002, compared to the record production
of 179.4 million tons set in 1990. Kentucky has been one of the top three coal producers in the
United States for the last 50 years.

Employment
The Kentucky coal industry paid $742.3 million in direct wages in 2002, directly employing
15,584 persons and indirectly providing 3 additional jobs for every miner employed. The
average weekly wage for coal miners in Kentucky was $916 during 2002.

Economy
The Kentucky coal industry brought over $2.5 billion into Kentucky from out-of-state during
Fiscal Year 2000-01 through coal sales to customers in 27 other states and 11 foreign
countries. Kentucky coal companies paid $141.5 million in coal severance taxes in Fiscal Year
2002.

Coal Markets
Electric power plants, located in 25 states, accounted for almost 67% of the Kentucky coal
sold during 2002.
Approximately 72% of the coal produced in Kentucky is sold out-of-state each year.
There are 22 major coal-burning electric generating plants in Kentucky, and almost all
(97%) of Kentucky's electricity is generated from coal.

Environment
All surface-mined land today is reclaimed equal to or better than it was prior to mining.
Kentucky mining companies have received five national reclamation awards in 1999 thru 2001
for outstanding achievement in surface mining and received a total of 27 awards in the past 16
years.
Coal mining creates valuable lands such as wildlife habitats, gently rolling mountaintops,
wetlands, and industrial sites where only steep, unproductive hillsides had once existed.
Kentucky operators have paid over $872.12 million into the Federal Abandoned Mine Land
Fund since 1978 to reclaim abandoned coal mines. Nationwide, operators have paid over
$6.56 billion into this fund. However, $1.44 billion remains unallocated for AML reclamation.

Coal Resources
Kentucky has two distinct coal fields, one in Western Kentucky and one in Eastern
Kentucky. Kentucky's 88.5 billion tons of coal resources remaining represent 84% of the
original resource.

Teacher Resources
Coal education resources materials are now available to teachers and students on the
Internet at the web site www.coaleducation.org. Additionally, a coal education multimedia
library kit with interactive learning tools is now available in every public elementary, middle
school, and county library in Kentucky.
December 2003. This publication is for informational use only. It includes some extrapolative second and third party data as well as some broad
estimates, and should not necessarily be construed as official source data or be construed as advocating or reflecting any policy position of the
Kentucky Coal Council or the Kentucky Coal Association.

i

* Table of Contents
Highlights ................................................................................................................................................... i
Contents ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Changes and Trends ................................................................................................................................ 2
Contacts ................................................................................................................................................... 3
History of Coal ....................................................................................................................................... 4-5
Types of Mining ........................................................................................................................................ 6

PRODUCTION
U. S. Coal Production ............................................................................................................................... 7
Kentucky Production................................................................................................................................. 8
County Production .................................................................................................................................... 9

EMPLOYMENT
Employment............................................................................................................................................ 10
Employment / Productivity ...................................................................................................................... 11
Employment / Wages by County ............................................................................................................ 12
Safety and Training ................................................................................................................................ 13

ECONOMY
Severance Tax by County ...................................................................................................................... 14
Coal Taxes Returned.............................................................................................................................. 15
Economic Impact .................................................................................................................................... 16
Coal Prices ............................................................................................................................................. 17

COAL MARKETS
Transportation ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Uses of Coal ........................................................................................................................................... 19
Electric Utility Shipments ........................................................................................................................ 20
Distribution — State to State .................................................................................................................. 21
Coal Exports / Imports ............................................................................................................................ 22

ENVIRONMENT
Air Quality / By-Products ........................................................................................................................ 23
Reclamation ............................................................................................................................................ 24
Post Mining Land Uses...................................................................................................................... 25-26
AML Reclamation ................................................................................................................................... 27

COAL RESOURCES
Coal Origin and Properties ..................................................................................................................... 28
U. S. Comparisons — Production .......................................................................................................... 29
U. S. Coal Reserves ............................................................................................................................... 30
Kentucky Coal Resources ................................................................................................................. 31-32
Coal Properties / Improvements ............................................................................................................. 33

RESOURCES
Coal-Fired Power Plants......................................................................................................................... 34

ELECTRICITY
Electric Utility / Non-Utility ...................................................................................................................... 35
Electricity Costs ...................................................................................................................................... 36
Information Assistance ........................................................................................................................... 37

1

* Changes & Trends
Three centuries after it was discovered in America, coal is still providing power for the
nation. As we begin a new century, coal faces many challenges to its premier status, but its
importance can never be questioned. The fuel, coal, that enabled the United States to become
the wealthiest industrialized nation in the world is still responsible for over half the nation's
electrical power.
Coal provides 51.8% of the electricity in this country, and in Kentucky 97% of our electricity
comes from coal.
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour during 2002, the
lowest in the United States, 23% below the national average in 2000. These low rates are
largely due to our reliance on coal-fired generation, sold at cost-based rates, as well as
sound utility management and excellent public policy.

What Changes
are Occurring?

Kentucky's share of the steam coal market to U.S. electric
utilities declined from 23.2% of the market in 1973 to 9.5% in 2002.
(see page 35)

As Kentucky coal companies consolidated into a globally competitive industry the number
of mines decreased. The number of mines currently in Kentucky is down to almost one-fifth of
the 2,063 mines which existed in 1984. (see page 8)
Post-mining land use changes are providing long term economic, social, and environmental
benefits to Kentucky, and the benefits are increasing. (see pages 25 and 26)

Is there a Trend?

Kentucky ships over 2.2 times as much coal to its neighboring
states as it receives from them, but Kentucky's positive coal flow
ratio has been cut in half since 1990. (see page 21)

Natural gas costs to U.S. electric utilities in 1993, 1998, and again in 1999 increased higher
than petroleum, while coal costs continued to decrease.
Underground mining in Kentucky continues to show steady safety improvements.
Over $2.5 billion continues to be brought into Kentucky each year from coal sales to 27
other states and 11 foreign countries. (see page 16)
The number of successful mining reclamation bond releases in Kentucky continues to grow
each year. (see page 24)
Source: See individual reference pages as listed.

On the Horizon?

Kentucky permits two coal-fired
power plants - the first in 20 years.

2

* Contacts
Governor’s Office
700 Capitol Ave., Capitol Building, Frankfort, KY 40601
Department of Local Government
1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 340, Frankfort, KY 40601
Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Capital Plaza Tower, 500 Mero Street, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601
Department for Environmental Protection
14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Waste Management
14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Water
14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Air Quality Control
803 Schenkel Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601
Department for Natural Resources
663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Energy
663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Abandoned Lands
2521 Lawrenceburg Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Field Services
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Permits
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Office of Administrative Hearings
25-26 Fountain Place, Frankfort KY 40601
Office of Mine Safety & Licensing
1025 Capital Center Dr., Suite 201, Frankfort, KY 40602
Office of the General Inspector
61 Wilkinson Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
Department of Public Protection
Mine Safety Review Commission
132 Brighton Park Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
Revenue Cabinet
Department of Tax Administration, Division of Compliance and
Taxpayer Assistance, Miscellaneous Tax Section, Severance Tax Unit
200 Fair Oaks Lane, 4th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40619
Department of Property Valuation, Division of Technical Support,
Mineral Valuation Section, 200 Fair Oaks Lane, 4th Fl., Frankfort, 40620
Transportation Cabinet
Division of Planning, Coal Haul Section
200 Mero Street, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40622
UK Center for Applied Energy Research
2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY 40511
United States Department of Energy
National Energy Information Ctr., EI-30, Forrestal Bldg., IE-238
1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585

3

Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax;
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:

502/564-2611
502/564-2735
502/573-2382
502/573-2939
502/564-3350
502/564-3354
502/564-2150
502/564-4245
502/564-6716
502/564-4049
502/564-3410
502/564-0111
502/573-3382
502/573-3787
502/564-6940
502/564-5698
502/564-7192
502/564-7484
502/564-2141
502/564-6544
502/564-6940
502/564-5698
502/564-2320
502/564-6764
502/564-6940
502/564-5698
502/564-7312
502/564-4973
502/573-0140
502/573-0152
502/564-1985
502/564-0873

Phone:
Fax:

502/573-0316
502/573-0344

Phone:
Fax:

502/564-4581
502/564-2906

Phone:
Fax:

502/564-8334
502/564-5977

Phone:
Fax:
Phone:
Fax:

502/564-7183
502/564-2865
859/257-0305
859/257-0220

Phone:
Fax:

202/586-8800
202/586-0727

* History of Coal
1701
1748
1750
1755
1758
1792
1820

1830
1837
1843
1850

1860
1861
1866
1870
1872
1877
1879
1880

1890

1900

1910

1914

1918
1920
1923
1929
1932
1936
1940
1942

Coal discovered in Virginia.
First recorded U.S. coal production.
April 13th-Dr. Thomas Walker was the first recorded person to discover and use coal in Kentucky.
Lewis Evan's map showing coal in what is now the Greenup County and Boyd County area of Kentucky.
First commercial U.S. coal shipment.
Issac Shelby becomes the first Governor of Kentucky (1792-1796).
First commercial mine, known as the "McLean drift bank" opened in Kentucky, near the Green River and
Paradise in Muhlenberg County.
328 short tons mined and sold in Kentucky.
2,000 tons of Kentucky production.
10,000 tons of Kentucky production.
100,000 tons of Kentucky production.
150,000 tons of Kentucky production.
Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad proposed.
Kentucky Geological Survey established.
Pre-Civil War Kentucky production record of 285,760 tons.
Kentucky-born Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States (1861-65).
Surface mining begins near Danville, Illinois.
Post-Civil War Kentucky production decline to 150,582 tons.
St. Louis & Southern Railroad completed from Henderson to Earlington, Kentucky.
First train off the Big Sandy Railroad.
Coal mined with steam-powered shovel.
One million tons of Kentucky production.
Mechanical stokers introduced.
First coke ovens in west Kentucky.
Mine Ventilation Law.
First train from Williamson, West Virginia to Pike County, Kentucky.
Coal mining machines come into general use.
N&W Railroad's first mine at Goody in Pike County.
Hopkins County in west Kentucky leading coal producer in the state for 18 straight years.
Miner Pay Law.
United Mine Workers of America formed.
Machines developed to undercut coalbeds.
5,000 kilowatt steam turbine generates electricity.
Child Labor Law.
Edgewater Coal Company's first production in Pike County.
First train off the Lexington and Eastern Railroad.
Independent Geological Survey established.
First train from the Cumberland Valley Railroad.
Fordson Coal Company's first production at Pond Creek.
Pike-Floyd Coal Company's first production at Betsy Layne.
World War I increases demand for coal; Kentucky production 20.3 million tons.
Short-flame or "permissible" explosives developed.
Mine Safety Law.
First pulverized coal firing in electric power plants.
Federal Mineral Leasing Act.
42.1 million tons of Kentucky production.
All-time high U.S. employment of 704,793 bituminous coal and lignite miners.
First dragline excavators built especially for surface mining.
Stock market crashes beginning the Great Depression.
Walking dragline excavators developed.
47.7 million tons of Kentucky production.
World War II - coal production in Kentucky rises to 72.4 million tons for the war effort.
Auger surface mining introduced.
Republic Steel Company's first production - Road Creek, Kentucky.
Post-War Marshall Plan - production rises to 88.7 million tons in Kentucky.

4

* History of Coal
1942
1947
1950
1956

1960

1963
1966
1969
1970
1972

1973
1976
1977
1980

1983

1988

1990

1992
1993
1994
1996

1997

1997
1998
2001

Continuous underground mining systems developed.
Kentucky Water Contamination Legislation.
Kentucky Coal Association founded.
82.2 million tons of Kentucky production.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
Railroads converting from coal to diesel fuel.
Roof bolting introduced in underground mines.
Railroads began using unit coal trains.
First longwall mining with powered roof supports.
Kentucky Surface Mining Legislation.
Kentucky coal production exceeded 100 million tons.
National Historic Preservation Act.
C&O Railroad to John's Creek constructed - Pike County.
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act.
Federal Clean Air Act.
Kentucky Coal Severance Tax established.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Kentucky becomes the leading coal production state.
Endangered Species Act.
OPEC oil embargo: Coal production and prices rise.
Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act.
Federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act.
Congress enacts the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) Study, a 10 year research
program, which invested $550 million for the study of "acid rain." Industries spend over $1 billion on Air
Pollution Control Equipment during 1980.
OPEC cuts oil prices for first time.
Martha Layne Collins becomes Kentucky's first woman Governor (1983-87).
U.S. Clean Coal Technology Demonstration Program established $2.5 billion in Federal matching funds
committed to assist the private sector to develop and demonstrate improved clean coal technologies.
Kentucky Supreme Court rules that the unmined minerals tax on coal is subject to the same state and local
property tax rates as other real estate.
TVA 160-MW Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustion Unit on line.
Wyoming displaces Kentucky as the leading coal producing state.
Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Kentucky record production - 179.4 million tons.
U.S. coal production exceeds 1 billion tons.
U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992.
CEDAR, Inc. (Coal Education Development and Resources) formed in Pike County.
Western Kentucky CEDAR, Inc. was formed in Webster and Union Counties.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues Order 888, addressing the issues of open access to
encourage wholesale competition in the electric utility industry and FERC Order 889, requiring utilities to
share information about available transmission capacity.
Kentucky Coal Education (www.coaleducation.org) was introduced to the Internet.
Workers' Comp Reform Laws are passed in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to re-introduce Elk into 14 East Kentucky counties on
post-mined lands, citing mountain-top removal areas and old mine benches as good elk habitat. This will be
the only large free-ranging elk herd in the Eastern United States.
Kentucky Coal Association celebrates 50 years of service to the mining industry.
Mountaintop mining comes under attack.
Federal synthetic fuel tax credit for use of coal fines begins.
Natural gas prices increase over 50% in one year.
Electricity shortages result in rolling blackouts in California.
Kentucky permits two coal-fired electric power plants, first in 20 years.
September 11, 2001 - America is attacked.
AMERICA'S SECURE FUEL FOR ELECTRIC ENERGY -- COAL

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Coal Data: A Reference, 1989, Kentucky Division of Mines and Minerals, Annual Reports, and
Willard Rouse Jillson, Coal Industry in Kentucky, 1922.

5

* Types of Mining
Kentucky has two distinct coal fields, each containing numerous deposits of bituminous
coal of various characteristics and mines of every type and size. By the use of large draglines
and shovels, the excavation of two or more coal seam deposits (multi-seam mining) is possible
in the large area surface mines of the gently rolling Western Kentucky coal field and in the
large mountain top mines in the steeper terrain of the Eastern Kentucky coal field. Both the
eastern and western Kentucky coal fields have large, modern, and efficient underground mines
(of various entry types) utilizing improved mining methods with increased mechanization
including continuous miners, longwall mining panels, or both.

Of Kentucky's 124.1* million tons of 2002
coal production, 75.6 million tons were
produced by underground mining methods and
48.5 million tons were produced by surface
mining methods.
*NOTE: This is the official U.S. DOE number for Kentucky. State
and Federal numbers will differ.

The EKY and WKY breakdown for the
number of mines and production for both
surface and underground mining methods used
in Kentucky is as follows:
2002 Production by Mine Type
________________________________________
No. of
Production
Mine Type
Mines
(million tons)
Surface
E KY
W KY

194
180
14

48.5
43.0
5.5

Underground
233
75.6
E KY
219
56.4
W KY
14
19.2
________________________________________
State Totals
427
124.1
________________________________________

Source: U.S. DOE - EIA Coal Data:
A Reference, 1989.

6

* U.S. Coal Production
KY and U.S. Coal Production* 1970—2002 (millions of tons)
Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

Eastern
72.5
71.6
68.9
74.0
85.4
87.3
91.1
94.0
96.2
104.1
109.2
117.9
111.2
95.6
117.3
113.3
112.7
119.9
117.5
125.7
128.4
117.2
119.4
120.2
124.4
118.5
117.0
120.9
116.7
110.0
105.0
109.1
99.4

Kentucky
Western
52.8
47.8
52.3
53.7
51.8
56.4
52.8
52.3
39.5
42.5
41.0
39.7
39.0
35.6
42.3
39.0
41.2
45.3
40.3
41.6
44.9
41.8
41.7
36.1
37.2
35.2
35.5
34.9
33.6
29.6
25.8
24.7
24.7

Total
125.3
119.4
121.2
127.6
137.2
143.6
144.0
146.3
135.7
146.5
150.1
157.6
150.2
131.2
159.5
152.3
153.9
165.2
157.9
167.4
173.3
159.0
161.1
156.3
161.6
153.7
152.4
155.9
150.3
139.6
130.7
133.8
124.1

United
States
602.9
552.2
595.4
591.7
603.4
648.4
678.7
691.3
665.1
777.9
829.7
823.8
838.1
782.1
895.9
883.6
890.3
918.8
950.3
980.7
1,029.1
996.0
997.5
945.4
1,033.5
1,033.0
1,063.9
1,089.9
1,118.1
1,100.4
1,073.6
1,125.9
1,094.3**

Kentucky as
% of U.S.
20.8
21.6
20.4
21.6
22.7
22.1
21.2
21.2
20.4
18.8
18.1
19.1
17.9
16.8
17.8
17.2
17.3
18.0
16.6
17.1
16.8
16.0
16.2
16.5
15.6
14.9
14.3
14.3
13.4
12.7
12.2
11.9
11.3

* NOTE: This is the official U.S. DOE number for Kentucky. State and Federal numbers will differ.
** US Total includes 988,000 tons of Refuse Recovered.

U. S. Leading Coal Producers
2002
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Kentucky ranked third in the United States
in coal production during 2002.

Sources: U.S. DOE - Energy Information Administration; Coal
Industry Annual, 1993-2002, Coal Production, 1977-1992.
U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Yearbook, 1970-1976.

7

State
Wyoming
West Virginia
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
Texas
Montana
Indiana
Colorado
Illinois
North Dakota

Millions
of Tons
373.2
150.1
124.1
68.4
45.2
37.4
35.3
35.1
33.3
30.8

* Kentucky Production
Kentucky produced 131.4 million tons of bituminous coal in 2002, down from the record of 179.4
million tons set in 1990.
Year
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2002

UNDERGROUND
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
32,041,487
37,740,473
44,068,538
41,280,096
59,603,430
75,530,607
81,577,417
73,922,358
59,956,626
59,562,704

12,851,108
13,341,646
19,430,489
24,757,456
19,558,157
21,188,598
27,375,465
24,763,534
21,543,143
21,244,764

SURFACE
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
4,622,417
9,587,626
28,527,422
46,957,448
49,582,095
52,294,115
49,393,390
47,288,817
44,335,363
44,615,777

18,552,641
26,537,294
33,281,946
31,209,511
21,400,291
22,602,743
21,026,997
11,812,973
6,010,856
5,979,552

STATE
TOTALS
67,067,653
87,207,039
125,308,395
144,204,511
150,143,973
169,616,063
179,373,269
157,787,682
131,845,988
131,402,797

Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960—2002

Number of Mines, 1984-2002
Year

Surface

1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

1,137
937
723
612
492
429
360
296
270
250
248
237
237
221
205
198
162
203
194

Kentucky
Underground
926
921
830
816
738
670
627
542
482
446
425
361
307
308
277
260
246
264
233

Total
2,063
1,858
1,553
1,428
1,230
1,099
987
838
752
696
673
598
544
529
482
458
408
467
427

Eastern Kentucky
Surface
Underground
1,026
900
836
897
633
802
532
791
426
714
358
644
301
601
243
513
225
459
197
425
206
401
201
339
197
287
193
289
186
259
178
243
148
234
187
253
180
219

Total
1,926
1,733
1,435
1,323
1,140
1,002
902
756
684
622
607
540
484
482
445
421
382
440
399

Western Kentucky
Surface
Under- Total
ground
111
26
137
101
24
125
90
28
118
80
25
105
66
24
90
71
26
97
59
26
85
53
29
82
45
23
68
53
21
74
42
24
66
36
22
58
40
20
60
28
19
47
19
18
37
20
17
37
14
12
26
16
11
27
14
14
28

Number of Mine Licenses in Kentucky
The number of actual mines is smaller than the final number of mine licenses issued each year. A
new license is required when the company name or ownership changes.
Year

UNDERGROUND
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky

SURFACE
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky

1960
2,563
74
179
1965
1,959
49
176
1970
1,449
34
502
1975
1,614
31
1,743
1980
1,131
32
1,349
1985
1,153
31
1,548
1990
799
27
860
1995
456
28
665
2000
309
14
256
2002
300
18
310
Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960—2002

8

70
45
73
182
136
139
83
48
26
20

STATE
TOTALS
2,886
2,229
2,058
3,570
2,648
2,871
1,769
1,197
605
648

* County Production
There were 427 mines in Kentucky during 2002. These mines were issued 648 mine
licenses and produced 131.4 million tons.
233 underground mines (318 licenses) accounted for 61.5% of Kentucky's production
and 194 surface mines (330 licenses) accounted for 38.5% of Kentucky’s production.
78% of Western Kentucky and 57% of Eastern Kentucky’s coal production was from
underground mines during 2002.
In 2002, 32 Kentucky counties produced coal; nine Western Kentucky counties and
23 Eastern Kentucky counties.

2002 Production by County and Type of Mine License*
County

Underground
Licenses Tonnage

Surface
Licenses Tonnage

Total
Licenses Tonnage

EASTERN KENTUCKY
Bell
Breathitt
Carter
Clay
Elliott
Floyd
Greenup
Harlan
Jackson
Johnson
Knott
Knox
Laurel
Lawrence
Lee
Leslie
Letcher
Magoffin
Martin
Morgan
Owsley
Perry
Pike
Whitley

15
1
32
46
3
30
12
3
9
34
12
1
10
89
3

1,833,896
124,997
1,985,481
8,402,364
393,352
5,542,972
282,290
605,089
4,131,927
7,499,513
4,389,981
1,150
4,334,294
19,968,304
67,094

9
3
1
11
2
15
1
18
4
8
28
5
2
7
1
7
22
1
15
3
5
27
110
5

1,288,080
1,263,410
0
97,369
15,000
1,009,658
8,999
2,183,703
22,574
383,516
6,077,266
187,254
34,113
926,096
48,860
2,601,132
2,746,074
31,803
4,502,391
10,163
40,793
8,614,924
12,447,007
75,592

24
3
1
12
2
47
1
64
4
11
58
17
2
10
1
16
56
1
27
4
5
37
199
8

3,121,976
1,263,410
0
222,366
15,000
2,995,139
8,999
10,586,067
22,574
776,868
11,620,238
469,544
34,113
1,531,185
48,860
6,733,059
10,245,587
31,803
8,892,372
11,313
40,793
12,949,218
32,415,311
142,686

EKY Total

300

59,562,704

310

44,615,777

610

104,178,481

1
5
3
1
4
4

1,976,206
2,843,056
3,256,886
344,686
3,790,906
9,033,024

1
2
1
5
1
8
2
-

116,595
347,379
1,117,780
2,047,376
277,586
2,055,296
17,540
-

1
2
2
10
1
11
3
4
4

116,595
347,379
3,093,986
4,890,432
277,586
5,312,182
362,226
3,790,906
9,033,024

18
318

21,244,764
80,807,468

20
330

5,979,552
50,595,329

38
648

27,224,316
131,402,797

WESTERN KENTUCKY
Christian
Daviess
Henderson
Hopkins
McLean
Muhlenberg
Ohio
Union
Webster
WKY Total
KY Totals

*NOTE: The number of licenses is greater than the number of mines because a mine may be relicensed if the company changes name or ownership.
Source: Kentucky Division of Mines and Minerals, Annual Report, 2002

9

* Employment
The Kentucky coal mining industry has a current work force of approximately 17,042* people directly
employed in coal mining jobs. The Western Kentucky coal field directly employs approximately 2,524
persons; the Eastern Kentucky coal field, approximately 14,518 direct mining jobs.

Kentucky’s Coal Mining Work Force, 2002
Eastern Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
5,237
Underground
9,281
Total
14,518

Western Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
495
Underground
2,029
Total
2,524

In 2002, Kentucky produced 124,142 million tons. Eastern Kentucky averaged just over 85% of
Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for about 80% of Kentucky’s total coal production.
Western Kentucky averaged approximately 15% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and about 20% of
Kentucky’s total coal production.
Direct mining employment declined in Eastern Kentucky, but increased in the Western Kentucky
coalfields.

Kentucky Coal Mining Employment, 1979—2002
Year
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002

Surface
4,343
3,995
4,056
4,120
3,415
4,022
3,421
2,327
2,345
1,825
1,870
2,095
1,910
1,722
1,887
1,803
1,109
1,095
937
747
615
450
558
495

Western Kentucky
Underground Total
6,945
11,288
7,879
11,874
6,489
10,545
5,639
9,759
4,918
8,333
4,053
8,075
4,294
7,715
4,297
6,624
4,605
6,950
4,388
6,213
4,166
6,036
3,491
5,586
3,603
5,513
3,483
5,205
3,465
5,352
2,988
4,791
3,176
4,285
2,601
3,696
2,578
3,515
2,763
3,510
2,309
2,924
2,060
2,510
1,864
2,422
2,029
2,524

Surface
12,838
11,819
13,473
12,319
10,485
11,327
10,516
8,718
8,740
8,261
8,034
7,505
6,251
6,014
5,683
5,728
5,474
4,855
5,053
5,493
4,973
4,162
5,197
5,237

Eastern Kentucky
Underground Total
23,064
35,902
22,702
34,521
24,032
37,505
22,782
35,101
17,615
28,100
18,474
29,801
18,583
29,099
17,312
26,030
16,900
25,640
16,085
24,346
16,586
24,620
17,407
24,912
14,878
21,129
13,405
19,419
13,028
18,711
12,849
18,577
11,366
16,840
10,275
15,130
10,369
15,422
9,924
15,417
9,314
14,287
8,828
12,990
9,915
15,112
9,281
14,518

*Note: State employment numbers differ from federal EIA numbers.
Source: U.S.DOE—EIA; Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2002, Coal Production 1979-1992.

10

Kentucky
Totals
47,190
46,395
48,050
44,860
36,433
37,876
36,814
32,654
32,590
30,599
30,656
30,498
26,642
24,624
24,063
23,368
21,125
18,826
18,937
18,927
17,211
15,500
17,534
17,042

* Employment / Productivity
Kentucky Coal Mine Employment
Kentucky Coal coal mine productivity increases in tons per miner per hour during the time period
Mine Employment
Average Kentucky

shown Average Kentucky coal mine productivity increases in tons per minerEastern and Western
below have allowed for the decline in coal mine employment in both per hour during the time period
shown below have allowed for the decline in coal mine employment in both Eastern and Western
Kentucky.
Kentucky.

Mine Productivity, 1977-2002 (tons/miner/hour)
Year
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

Eastern
Kentucky
1.71
1.62
1.54
1.67
1.76
1.79
1.98
2.13
2.13
2.31
2.59
2.68
2.58
2.66
2.90
3.10
3.18
3.24
3.47
3.68
3.83
3.70
3.74
3.86
3.52

Western
Kentucky

Kentucky
Average

2.22
1.97
1.94
1.96
2.12
2.01
2.43
2.61
2.57
2.94
2.98
2.95
3.62
3.46
3.37
3.49
3.49
3.28
3.97
4.29
4.38
4.16
4.57
4.46
4.43

Appalachian
Coal Field

1.86
1.71
1.64
1.74
1.84
1.84
2.08
2.24
2.23
2.45
2.69
2.74
2.78
2.83
3.01
3.20
3.25
3.25
3.57
3.80
3.94
3.79
3.89
3.96
3.66

1.36
1.33
1.39
1.51
1.51
1.75
1.86
1.90
2.09
2.30
2.44
2.49
2.60
2.74
2.95
3.00
3.20
3.32
3.48
3.76
3.78
3.84
4.10
3.85

Interior Coal
Field

Western U.S.
Coal Field

U.S.
Average

2.42
2.21
2.30
2.35
2.38
2.69
2.80
2.81
3.14
3.33
3.45
3.84
3.88
3.98
4.18
4.43
4.43
4.97
5.39
5.54
5.39
5.64
5.81
5.56

5.85
5.47
5.64
6.15
6.26
7.60
8.30
8.55
9.27
10.42
11.01
11.63
11.82
12.42
12.73
13.53
14.58
15.68
17.41
17.75
18.03
19.05
19.63
20.64

1.82
1.79
1.81
1.93
2