xt73r20rs85k https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt73r20rs85k/data/mets.xml Kentucky Kentucky Coal Association Kentucky Office of Energy Policy Division of Fossil Fuels and Utility Services 2006 journals  English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Coal Facts Kentucky Coal Facts: 2005-2006 Guide text Kentucky Coal Facts: 2005-2006 Guide 2006 2014 true xt73r20rs85k section xt73r20rs85k 2005-2006 GUIDE

Kentucky Coal Facts

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

Edition

9

* Highlights
Electricity
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 4.63 cents/kilowatt-hour in 2004, the lowest in
the United States.

Production
Kentucky produced 119.0 million tons of coal in 2004, 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 $759 million in direct wages in 2004, directly employing
15,012 persons and indirectly providing 3 additional jobs for every miner employed. The
average weekly wage for coal miners in Kentucky was $972 during 2004.

Economy
The Kentucky coal industry brought $3.25 billion into Kentucky from out-of-state during
Fiscal Year 2004-05 through coal sales to customers in 23 other states and 4 foreign
countries. Kentucky coal companies paid $183.94 million in coal severance taxes in Fiscal
Year 2004-05.

Coal Markets
Electric power plants, located in 23 states, accounted for almost 68% of the Kentucky coal
sold during 2004.
Approximately 73% 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
(91%) 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 $898.6 million into the Federal Abandoned Mine Land
Fund since 1978 to reclaim abandoned coal mines. Nationwide, operators have paid over
$7.45 billion into this fund. However, $1.8 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 87.6 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.
March 2006. 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 & 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
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 Offering Tours ................................................................................................ 34

ELECTRICITY
Electric Utility / Non-Utility ...................................................................................................................... 35
Electricity Costs...................................................................................................................................... 36
Information Assistance........................................................................................................................... 37
1

* Changes and 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 52% of the electricity in this country, and in Kentucky 91% of our electricity
comes from coal.
Average electricity costs in Kentucky were 4.63 cents per kilowatt-hour during 2004, the
lowest in the United States, 23% below the national average in 2000. These low rates are 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 8.5% in 2004.
(see page 35)

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 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 three 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)

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 $3.25 billion continues to be brought into Kentucky each year from coal sales to 23
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:
FAX:

502-564-2611
502-564-2517

Governor’s Office for Local Development (GOLD)
1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 340, Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone:
FAX:

502-573-2382
502-573-2939

Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Capital Plaza Tower, 500 Mero Street, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601

Phone:
FAX

502-564-3350
502-564-3354

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

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

502-564-2225
502-564-4245
502-564-6716
502-564-4049
502-564-3410
502-564-0111
502-573-3382
502-573-3787

Department for Natural Resources
#2 Hudson Hollow, 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 Mine Reclamation and Enforcement
#2 Hudson Hollow Road, Frankfort, KY 40601
Office of Administrative Hearings
35-36 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:

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

Phone:
FAX:

502-564-8334
502-564-5977

Phone:
FAX:

502-564-8334
502-564-5977

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:
FAX:

859-257-0305
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
202-586-0727

Revenue, Department of
Department of Tax Administration, Division of Minerals Taxation and
GIS Services, Severance Tax Unit, 200 Fair Oaks Lane, 4th Floor,
Frankfort, KY 40620
Office of Property Valuation, Division of Minerals Taxation and
GIS Services, 200 Fair Oaks Lane, 4th Fl., Frankfort, KY 40620

3

* 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
1942
1947

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 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.
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 rose 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.

4

* History of Coal
1950
1956

1960

1963
1966
1969
1970
1972

1973
1976
1977
1980

1983

1988

1990

1992
1993
1994
1996

1997

1997
1998
2001
2004
2005

2006

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 producting 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 ruled 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 Resource) 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 on 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 postmined 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.
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.
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 coalfired 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 provide training for coal miners that reflect the technological advancements in
the mining industry.

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 114.2* million tons of 2004
coal production, 71.7 million tons were
produced by underground mining methods and
42.5 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:
2004 Production by Mine Type
_________________________________________
No. of
Production
Mine Type
Mines
(million tons)
Surface
E KY
W KY

196
185
11

42.5
38.4
4.1

Underground
223
71.7
E KY
212
52.4
W KY
11
19.3
________________________________________
State Totals

419

114.2

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

Source: U.S. DOE - EIA Coal Data Report, 2004.
Source: U.S. DOE - EIA Coal Data:
A Reference, 1989.

6

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

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

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
21.5
23.4

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

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
1,071.8
1,112.1**

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
10.5
10.3

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

U. S. Leading Coal Producers

2004
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Kentucky ranked third in the United States
in coal production during 2004.

Sources: U.S. DOE - Energy Information Administration; Coal
Industry Annual, 1993-2004, Coal Production, 1977-1992.
U. S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral Yearbook, 1970-1976.

7

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

Millions
of Tons
396.5
148.0
114.2
66.0
45.9
40.0
39.9
35.1
31.9
31.4

* Kentucky Production
Kentucky produced 119.0 million tons of bituminous coal in 2004, down over 60 million tons from the
record 179.4 million tons set in 1990.
Year
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2002
2003
2004

UNDERGROUND
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
32,041,487
12,851,108
37,740,473
13,341,646
44,068,538
19,430,489
41,280,096
24,757,456
59,603,430
19,558,157
75,530,607
21,188,598
81,577,417
27,375,465
73,922,358
24,763,534
59,956,626
21,543,143
59,562,704
21,244,764
52,952,957
19,055,260
54,250,895
19,228,512

SURFACE
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
4,622,417
18,552,641
9,587,626
26,537,294
28,527,422
33,281,946
46,957,448
31,209,511
49,582,095
21,400,291
52,294,115
22,602,743
49,393,390
21,026,997
47,288,817
11,812,973
44,335,363
6,010,856
44,615,777
5,979,552
40,751,963
4,360,719
41,544,662
3,930,444

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
117,120,899
118,954,473

Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960—2002; Office of Mine Safety & Licensing, Annual Reports, 2003-2004.

Number of Mines, 1984-2004
Year
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004

Surface
1,137
937
723
612
492
429
360
296
270
250
248
237
237
221
205
198
162
203
194
213
196

Kentucky
Underground
926
921
830
816
738
670
627
542
482
446
425
361
307
308
277
260
246
264
233
187
223

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
400
419

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
174
201
185
212

Western Kentucky
Surface
Underground Total
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
13
12
25
11
11
22

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
375
397

Source: U. S. DOE—Energy Information Administration, Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2004, 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.
Year
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2002
2003
2004

UNDERGROUND
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
2,563
1,959
1,449
1,614
1,131
1,153
799
456
309
300
268
282

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

SURFACE
Eastern Kentucky
Western Kentucky
179
176
502
1,743
1,349
1,548
860
665
256
310
240
298

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

STATE
TOTALS
2,886
2,229
2,058
3,570
2,648
2,871
1,769
1,197
605
648
541
608

Source: Kentucky Division of Mines & Minerals, Annual Reports, 1960—2002; Office of Mine Safety & Licensing, Annual Reports, 2003-2004

8

* County Production
There were 419 mines in Kentucky during 2004. These 419 mines were issued 608
mine licenses and produced 119.0 million tons.
223 underground mines (296 licenses) accounted for 61.8% of Kentucky's production
and 196 surface mines (312 licenses) accounted for 38.2% of Kentucky’s production.
83% of Western Kentucky and 57% of Eastern Kentucky’s coal production was from
underground mines during 2004.
In 2004, 28 Kentucky counties produced coal; six Western Kentucky counties and 22
Eastern Kentucky counties.

2004 Production by County and Type of Mine License*
County

Underground
Licenses Tonnage

Surface
Licenses Tonnage

Total
Licenses Tonnage

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

7
2
33
43
2
35
6
4
7
27
9
1
14
90
2

477,858
11,385
1,137,158
9,246,972
585,129
9,031,684
279,078
1,019,740
2,703,110
4,826,172
3,000,969
4,539,355
17,375,051
17,234

13
7
11
2
20
24
5
12
21
8
2
7
1
9
41
5
15
1
6
24
62
2

978,002
911,528
94,930
20,000
2,112,568
2,725,886
53,081
263,408
4,591,552
356,716
84,645
214,462
22,900
1,806,399
3,794,227
851,299
3,372,221
22,202
80,678
7,500,739
11,491,708
195,471

20
7
13
2
53
67
5
14
56
14
2
11
1
16
68
5
24
2
6
38
152
4

1,455,860
911,528
106,315
20,000
3,249,726
11,972,858
53,081
848,537
13,623,236
635,794
84,645
1,234,202
22,900
4,509,509
8,620,399
851,299
6,373,190
22,202
80,678
12,040,094
28,866,759
212,705

EKY Total

282

54,250,895

298

41,544,622

580

95,795,517

1
5
2
1
2
3

1,527,207
8,358,964
2,563,895
1,305,491
4,359,576
1,113,379

1
6
6
1
-

1,288,553
852,152
1,747,957
41,782
-

2
11
8
1
3
3

2,815,760
9,211,116
4,311,852
1,305,491
4,401,358
1,113,379

14
296

19,228,512
73,479,407

14
312

3,930,444
45,475,066

28
608

23,158,956
118,954,473

WESTERN KENTUCKY
Henderson
Hopkins
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 Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, Annual Report, 2004

9

* Employment
The Kentucky coal mining industry has a current work force of approximately 15,522* people directly
employed in coal mining jobs. The Western Kentucky coal field directly employs approximately 2,250
persons, while the Eastern Kentucky coal field provides 13,272 direct mining jobs.

Kentucky’s Coal Mining Work Force, 2004
Eastern Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
4,901
Underground
8,371
Total
13,272

Western Kentucky Coal Field
Surface
370
Underground
1,880
Total
2,250

Eastern Kentucky averaged just over 85% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for
about 80% of Kentucky’s total coal production in 2004. Western Kentucky averaged approximately 15%
of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for about 20% of Kentucky’s total coal production in
2004.
Kentucky produced 114.2 million tons during 2004 while direct mining employment continued to
decline.

Kentucky Coal Mining Employment, 1979—2004
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

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
443
370

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
1,773
2,216
1,880
2,250

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
4,896
4,901

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
8,143
13,039
8,371
13,272

*Note: State employment numbers differ from federal EIA numbers.
Source: U.S.DOE—EIA; Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2004, 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
15,255
15,522

* Productivity
Kentucky Coal Mine Productivity
The average Kentucky and U.S. coal mine productivity peaked in 2000, and has decreased slightly
through 2004.

Mine Productivity, 1977-2004 (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

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

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