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Coal Mine Inspections Restored

ISHN

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers says after consideration, his chamber will likely restore the number of state mine inspections in the state budget.

The Senate’s version of the budget initially reduced the number of mandatory mine inspections from six per year to just two. That drew criticism from the state Energy and Environment Cabinet, which said it would put coal miners at increased risk.

Stivers says the number of mines has dropped and the department doesn't need the same amount of funding. But he wants to examine the need for inspections and adjust the budget accordingly.

“I think it’s, again, a function of the mines and what’s going on with the mines: surface mines, underground mines, you know, getting the statistical evidence of what’s going on here,” says Stivers.

Both chambers are currently in negotiations to reach an agreement on the state budget, which House and Senate leaders say will be finished early next week.

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