xt71vh5cd47m https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt71vh5cd47m/data/mets.xml Kentucky Kentucky Coal Association Kentucky Office of Energy Policy Division of Fossil Fuels and Utility Services 2008 journals  English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Coal Facts Kentucky Coal Facts: 2007-2008 Pocket Guide text Kentucky Coal Facts: 2007-2008 Pocket Guide 2008 2014 true xt71vh5cd47m section xt71vh5cd47m 2007-2008 POCKET GUIDE

KENTUCKY
COAL FACTS

Prepared by the
Kentucky Office of Energy Policy
Division of Fossil Fuels & Utility Services
and the
Kentucky Coal Association
Edition

10

* Highlights
Electricity
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 5.43 cents/kilowatt-hour in 2006, the fourth
lowest in the United States.

Production
Kentucky produced 125.96 million tons of coal in 2006, 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 $1.035 billion in direct wages in 2006, directly employing
17,669 persons and indirectly providing 3 additional jobs for every miner employed. The average weekly wage for coal miners in Kentucky was $1,126 during 2006.

Economy
The Kentucky coal industry brought over $3.5 billion into Kentucky from out-of-state during
2006 through coal sales to customers in 30 other states and 4 foreign countries. Kentucky coal
companies paid $221.42 million in coal severance taxes in Fiscal Year 2006-07.

Coal Markets
Electric power plants, located in 30 states, accounted for almost 89.3% of the Kentucky
coal sold during 2006.
Approximately 79.5% 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
(92.2%) 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 25 national reclamation awards from 1986 thru 2005
for outstanding achievement in surface mining.
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 $978.48 million into the Federal Abandoned Mine Land
Fund since 1978 to reclaim abandoned coal mines. Nationwide, operators have paid over $7.94
billion into this fund. However, $1.96 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 87.1 billion tons of coal resources remaining represent 83% 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 are available in every public and private elementary, middle,
and high schools, and county libraries in Kentucky.
April 2008 . 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 Division of Fossil Fuels & Utility Services 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
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
Coal Deliveries — State to State .....................................................................20
Electric Utility Shipments ..................................................................................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

ELECTRICITY
Coal-into-Kilowatts ...................................................................................... 34-35
Electricity Costs ...............................................................................................36
Electric Utility / Non-Utility .................................................................................37

GASIFICATION

Coal—America’s Energy Future ................................................................... 38-39

RESOURCES
Coal-Fired Power Plants ...................................................................................40
Information Assistance.....................................................................................41

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 49% of the electricity in this country, and in Kentucky 92.2%
of our electricity comes from coal.
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 5.43 cents per kilowatt-hour
during 2006, the fourth lowest in the United States, 39% below the national average in 2006. 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 10.5% in 2006 ( see page 37).

As Kentucky coal companies have consolidated into a globally competitive
industry the number of mines has decreased. The number of mines currently in
Kentucky is 442 compared to 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 shipped 119 million tons to 30 states
compared to the 44 million tons it received from 11
states in 2006 (see page 20).

In comparison to other fuels, coal continues to be the lowest-cost fuel for
electric generation.
Underground and surface mining in Kentucky continue to show steady
safety improvements.
Over $3.95 billion continues to be brought into Kentucky each year from
coal sales to 30 other states and 4 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?
A new coal-fired electric utility company power plant went online in 2005,
the first in over 15 years. In 2005, the Kentucky PSC approved another coalfired power plant, and in 2006 applications were pending before the PSC for two
additional coal-fired power plants.

2

* Contacts
Governor’s Office
700 Capitol Ave., Capitol Building, Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone: 502-564-2611
FAX:
502-564-2517

Department of Local Government
Phone:
1024 Capital Center Dr., Suite 340, Frankfort, KY 40601 FAX:

502-573-2382
502-573-2939

Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cab.
Capital Plaza Tower, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601
Department for Environmental Protection
300 Fair Oaks Lane, 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
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Abandoned Mine Lands
2521 Lawrenceburg Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Mine Permits
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Office of Administrative Hearings
35-56 Fountain Place, Frankfort KY 40601
Office of Mine Safety & Licensing
1025 Capital Center Dr., Suite 201, Frankfort, KY 40602
Independent Commissions
Mine Safety Review Commission
132 Brighton Park Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:

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
502-564-2141
502-564-6544
502-564-2320
502-564-6764
502-564-2340
502-564-5848
502-564-7312
502-564-4973
502-573-0140
502-573-0152

Phone:
FAX:

502-573-0316
502-573-0344

Department of Revenue
Division of Minerals Taxation and GIS Services,
Severance Tax Unit,
501 High Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
Office of Property Valuation
501 High Street, Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone:
FAX:
Phone:
FAX:

502-564-8334
502-564-5977
502-564-8338
502-564-8368

Transportation Cabinet
Division of Planning, Coal Haul Section
200 Mero Street, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40622

Phone:
FAX:

502-564-7183
502-564-2865

UK Center for Applied Energy Research
2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY 40511

Phone: 859-257-0305
FAX:
859-257-0220

United States Department of Energy
National Energy Information Ctr., EI-30, Forrestal Bldg.,
IE-238, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20585

Phone:
FAX:

202-586-8800
202-586-0114

3

* History of Coal
1701
1748
1750
1755
1758
1792
1820
1843
1850
1860
1861
1866
1870
1872
1877
1879
1880

1890

1900

1910
1914
1918
1920
1923
1932
1940
1942

1947
1950
1956
1960

4

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.
100,000 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 (186165).
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 produced 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.
Walking dragline excavators developed.
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 rose to 88.7 million tons in Kentucky.
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.

* History of Coal
1963
1966
1969
1970
1972
1973
1976
1977
1980
1983

1988

1988
1990
1992
1993
1994
1996
1997
1998
2001
2004
2005

2006

2007

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.
Broad Form Deed legislation passes in Kentucky.
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.
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 is to be the only large free -ranging elk herd in the Eastern United States.
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.
Governor Fletcher unveils Kentucky’s first comprehensive energy strategy, “ Kentucky’s Energy:
Opportunities for Our Future.”
East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s Gilbert coal-fueled fluidized-bed power plant begins operation, the first coal-fired plant in over 15 years.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 signed by President Bush; includes major Clean Coal Technology
programs.
Kentucky Energy Security National Leadership Act (HB 299) enacted; Act calls for strategy for
producing liquid and gaseous fuels from Kentucky coal.
Kentucky Coal Academy founded to train new coal miners.
Kentucky becomes the first coal state to adopt a drug testing program for certification of
coal miners.
Congress passes Mine Improvement & New Emergency Response Act, (MINER Act). The
most significant federal mine safety legislation in 30 years, requiring underground coal operators to improve accident preparedness.
No underground coal mining fatalities in Kentucky since records began in 1890.
House Bill 1, providing incentives for development in Kentucky of industries for producing
transportation fuels and synthetic natural gas by gasification of coal enacted.
U.S. Air Force flies B-52 bomber and C-17 transport aircraft on a 50-50 blend of conventional
jet fuel and jet fuel produced by the Fischer-Tropsch process that converts gasified coal into
liquid fuels and chemicals

Sources: Energy Information Administration, (www.eia.doe.gov), Kentucky Department 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. In surface mining the use of large mining equipment maximizes the recovery through the excavation of one or more coal seam deposits 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 120.8* million tons
of 2006 coal production, 73.2 million
tons were produced by underground
mining methods and 47.6 million tons
were produced by surface mining methods.
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:

2006 Production by Mine Type
Mine Type
Surface
E KY
W KY

No. of
Mines
215
202
13

Production
(million tons)
47.6
44.2
3.4

Underground
227
73.2
E KY
214
56.4
W KY
13
23.9
__________________________________
State Totals
442
120.8
__________________________________

*NOTE: This is the official U.S. DOE
number for Kentucky. State and Federal
numbers typically differ.

6

* U.S. Coal Production
KY and U.S. Coal Production* 1970—2006 (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
2003
2004
2005
2006

Kentucky
Western

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
91.3
90.9
93.3
93.6

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
21.5
23.4
26.4
27.2

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
112.8
114.2
119.7
120.8

United Kentucky as
States
% of U.S .
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
1,071.8
1,112.1
1,131.5
1,162.7

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
10.5
10.3
10.6
10.4

Note: These are the official U.S. DOE production numbers for Kentucky. (Federal and state (page 8) production
numbers typically differ.

U. S. Leading Coal Producers

Kentucky ranked
third in the United
States in coal
production during
2006.

2006
Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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

Millions
of Tons
447.0
157.0
120.8
61.1
45.5
41.8
36.3
35.1
32.8
30.4

Sources: U.S. DOE - Energy Information Administration; Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2006, Coal Production, 1977 1992. U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Yearbook, 1970-1976.

7

* Kentucky Production
Kentucky produced 125.9 million tons of bituminous coal in 2006, down over 53 million
tons from the record 179.4 million tons set in 1990.
UNDERGROUND
SURFACE
STATE
Year
East Ky.
West Ky.
East Ky.
West Ky.
TOTALS
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

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
52,952,957
54,250,895
52,679,423
50,853,952

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
19,055,260
19,288,512
21,751,538
25,971,680

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
40,751,963
41,544,662
45,073,132
45,537,968

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
4,360,719
3,930,444
4,903,482
3,597,011

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
117,120,899
118,954,473
124,407,575
125,960,611

Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960-2002; Office of Mine Safety & Licensing, Annual
Reports, 2003 -2006.

Number of Mines, 1986-2006
Kentucky

Year
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

Surface Underground Total
723
830
1,553
612
816
1,428
492
738
1,230
429
670
1,099
360
627
987
296
542
838
270
482
752
250
446
696
248
425
673
237
361
598
237
307
544
221
308
529
205
277
482
198
260
458
162
246
408
203
264
467
194
233
427
213
187
400
196
223
419
208
224
432
215
227
442

Eastern Kentucky

Western Kentucky

Surface Underground Total Surface Underground Total
633
802
1,435
90
28
118
532
791
1,323
80
25
105
426
714
1,140
66
24
90
358
644
1,002
71
26
97
301
601
902
59
26
85
243
513
756
53
29
82
225
459
684
45
23
68
197
425
622
53
21
74
206
401
607
42
24
66
201
339
540
36
22
58
197
287
484
40
20
60
193
289
482
28
19
47
186
259
445
19
18
37
178
243
421
20
17
37
148
234
382
14
12
26
187
253
440
16
11
27
180
219
399
14
14
28
174
201
375
13
12
25
185
212
397
11
11
22
193
211
404
15
13
28
202
214
416
13
13
26

Source: U.S. DOE-Energy Information Administration, Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2006; Coal Production, 1984 -2004.

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.
UNDERGROUND
SURFACE
STATE
Year
East Ky.
West Ky.
East Ky.
West Ky.
TOTALS
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

2,563
1,959
1,449
1,614
1,131
1,153
799
456
309
300
268
282
278
287

74
49
34
31
32
31
27
28
14
18
17
14
16
15

179
176
502
1,743
1,349
1,548
860
665
256
310
240
298
281
329

70
45
73
182
136
139
83
48
26
20
16
14
19
16

2,886
2,229
2,058
3,570
2,648
2,871
1,769
1,197
605
648
541
608
594
647

Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960-2002; Office of Mine Safety & Licensing, Annual Reports,
2003-2006

8

* County Production
There were 620 mines in Kentucky during 2006.
These 620 mines were issued 647 mine licenses and
produced 125.9 million tons.
245 underground mines (302 licenses)
accounted for 61.0% of Kentucky's production and 375
surface mines (345 licenses) accounted for 39.0% of
Kentucky’s production.
88% of Western Kentucky and 53% of Eastern
Kentucky’s coal production was from underground
mines during 2006.
In 2006, 32 Kentucky counties produced coal;
eight Western Kentucky counties and 24 Eastern
Kentucky counties.

2006 Production by County and Type of Mine License*
Underground
County
Licenses
Tonnage
EASTERN KENTUCKY

Surface
Licenses
Tonnage

Total
Licenses Tonnage

Bell
Breathitt
Clay
Elliott
Floyd
Harlan
Jackson
Johnson
Knott
Knox
Laurel
Lawrence
Lee
Leslie
Letcher
Magoffin
Martin
Morgan
Owsley
Perry
Pike
Rockcastle
Whitley
Wolfe

8
2
3
39
50
2
31
10
3
5
26
13
2
10
82
1
-

1,012,546
687,666
101,536
1,948,958
8,585,933
1,543,278
5,317,885
221,085
209,470
3,096,748
6,342,546
2,726,415
771
4,154,284
14,884,057
20,774
-

23
7
7
1
21
26
7
11
22
10
2
13
1
10
34
4
14
6
4
28
73
1
1
2

1,742,281
1,598,788
94,819
20,000
2,034,108
3,249,239
66,036
387,329
3,662,497
453,037
134,799
883,153
24,084
1,789,424
3,480,209
2,053,610
2,067,572
80,237
106,125
9,884,628
11,509,998
60,989
148,712
6,294

31
9
10
1
60
76
7
13
5
20
2
16
1
15
60
4
27
8
4
38
155
1
2
2

2,754,827
2,286,454
196,355
20,000
3,983,066
11,835,172
66,036
1,930,607
8,980,382
674,122
134,799
1,092,623
24,084
4,886,172
9,822,755
2,053,610
4,793,987
81,008
106,125
14,038,912
26,394,055
60.989
169,486
6,294

EKY Total

287

50,853,952

328

45,537,968

615

96,391,920

1
6
2
1
2
3

1,870,214
11,292,382
2,342,190
1,284,459
4,851,334
4,331,101

1
1
1
7
6
1
-

32,668
1,808
1,296,328
191,512
1,879,959
194,736
-

1
1
2
13
8
1
3
3

32,668
1,808
3,166,542
11,483,894
4,222,149
1,284,459
5,046,070
4,331,101

WKY Total

15

25,971,680

17

3,597,011

32

29,568,691

KY Totals

302

76,825,632

345

49,134,979

647

125,960,611

WESTERN KENTUCKY
Crittenden
Daviess
Henderson
Hopkins
Muhlenberg
Ohio
Union
Webster

* 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 Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, Annual Report, 2006

9

* Employment
The Kentucky coal mining industry has a current work force of approximately 17,959*
people directly employed in coal mining jobs. The Western Kentucky coal field directly employs
approximately 2,949 persons; while the Eastern Kentucky coal field provides 15,010 direct
mining jobs.

Kentucky’s Coal Mining Work Force, 2006
Eastern Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
5,707
Underground
9,303
Total
15,010

Western Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
350
Underground
2,599
Total
2,949

Eastern Kentucky averaged just over 84% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and
accounted for about 78% of Kentucky’s total coal production in 2006. Western Kentucky
averaged approximately 16% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for about 22%
of Kentucky’s total coal production in 2006.
Kentucky produced 120.8 million tons during 2006 while direct mining employment
continued to increase over the past two years.

Kentucky Coal Mining Employment, 1979—2006
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
2003
2004
2005
2006

Western Kentucky
Surface Underground Total
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
443
370
446
350

6,945
7,879
6,489
5,639
4,918
4,053
4,294
4,297
4,605
4,388
4,166
3,491
3,603
3,483
3,465
2,988
3,176
2,601
2,578
2,763
2,309
2,060
1,864
2,029
1,773
1,880
2,254
2,599

11,288
11,874
10,545
9,759
8,333
8,075
7,715
6,624
6,950
6,213
6,036
5,586
5,513
5,205
5,352
4,791
4,285
3,696
3,515
3,510
2,924
2,510
2,422
2,524
2,216
2,250
2,700
2,949

Eastern Kentucky
Surface Underground Total
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
4,896
4,901
5,407
5,707

23,064
22,702
24,032
22,782
17,615
18,474
18,583
17,312
16,900
16,085
16,586
17,407
14,878
13,405
13,028
12,849
11,366
10,275
10,369
9,924
9,314
8,828
9,915
9,281
8,143
8,371
8,883
9,303

*Note: State employment numbers differ from federal EIA numbers.
Source: U.S.DOE—EIA; Coal Industry Annual, 1993 -2006, Coal Production 1979-1992.

10

35,902
34,521
37,505
35,101
28,100
29,801
29,099
26,030
25,640
24,346
24,620
24,912
21,129
19,419
18,711
18,577
16,840
15,130
15,422
15,417
14,287
12,990
15,112
14,518
13,039
13,272
14.290
15,010

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
15,255
15,522
16,990
17,959

* Productivity
Kentucky Coal Mine Productivity
The average Kentucky and U.S. coal mine productivity peaked in 2000, and has
decreased slightly through 2006.

Mine Productivity, 1977-2006 (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
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

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
3.32
3.32
3.13
2.93
2.78

Western
Kentucky
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
4.22
4.23
4.38
4.11
3.78

Kentucky
Average
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
3.47
3.46
3.32
3.13
2.96

Appalachian
Coal Field
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
3.71
3.71
3.56
3.28
3.13

Interior Coal
Field

Western U.S.
Coal Field

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
5.54
5.56
5.47
5.29
5.10

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
20.07
20.82
21.28
20.47
20.19

U.S.
Average
1.82
1.79
1.81
1.93
2.10
2.11
2.50
2.64
2.74
3.01
3.30
3.55
3.70
3.83
4.09
4.36
4.70
4.98
5.38
5.69
6.04