Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources
From Ballotpedia
| Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Non-partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the Kentucky Energy and Environmental Secretary |
| Authority: | Kentucky Revised Statutes 351.020 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet |
| Current Officeholder | |
| Name: | Steve Hohmann |
| Assumed office: | January 16, 2012 |
| Compensation: | $95,445 |
| Other Kentucky Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Cabinet Secretary • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
The Commissioner serves as head of the Department of natural resources and administers all Commonwealth laws related to mines.[1]
Current officeholder
Carl Campbell served in the position from May 2008 until November 2011 when he was unexpectedly fired without reason. Deputy commissioner Larry Arnett took over the position on a temporary basis until Steve Hohmann was appointed on January 12, 2012.[2][3]
Authority
The Department for Natural Resources is established in the Kentucky Revised Statutes.
Kentucky Revised Statutes 351.020:
| (1) The department for natural resources shall be headed by the Commissioner of the department for natural resources. (2) The department shall administer all laws of the Commonwealth relating to mines. |
Appointments
The Commissioner is appointed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet.[3]
Duties
The Kentucky revised statutes list the following 14 duties of the commissioner:[4]
- Have full authority over the department, superintend and direct activities of mine inspectors and other personnel
- Appoint an executive director to the office of Mine Safety and Licensing
- Divide the coal fields of the state in as many inspection district as necessary and assign inspectors to respective districts
- Temporarily employ the services of traditional mine inspectors or change inspectors from one district to another
- Direct the inspections of mines and the quality of air in mines
- Collect statistics relating to coal mining in the state and provide an annual report
- See that maps, plans, projections, and proposed developments of all underground coal mines are made and filed
- Keep a properly indexed, permanent record of all inspections made by the department
- Exercise general supervision over training of officials and workmen in safety and first aid and mine rescue methods
- Exercise general supervision over dissemination of information among officials and employees concerning mines; assume full charge in the event of mine fire or explosion or other serious accident
- Assist in the resumption of operations of any mine or gather data for the development of any coal seams that would be of any benefit to the state or create new employment
- Prescribe reasonable safety standards governing the use of explosives, electrical and mechanical equipment in open pit or surface mines
- Ascertain the cause or causes of any coal mining fatality and any accidents involving serious physical injury and report on findings within 60 days
- Assess civil monetary penalties against licensed facilities for violations of laws pertaining to roof control plans, mine seal construction plans, unsafe working conditions, and mine ventilation plans that could lead to imminent danger or serious physical injury
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
In 2012, the Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources was paid an estimated $95,445 according to the Council of State Governments.
Contact information
Kentucky Department for Natural Resources
2 Hudson Hollow
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-6940
Fax: 502-564-5698
E-mail: Linda.Potter@ky.gov
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Kentucky Revised Statutes, " 351.020 Commission of Department for Natural Resources," accessed December 15, 2012
- ↑ Daily Independent, " Firing stuns Commissioner of natural resources," November 30, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kentucky Department of Natural Resources, " Energy and Environment Cabinet Selects Abandoned Mine Inspector As Commissioner of Department for Natural Resources," January 12, 2012
- ↑ Kentucky Revised Statutes, " 351.070 Duties of the Commissioner," accessed December 20, 2012
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
