Kentucky Unveils Mine Mapping Internet Site

For Immediate Release                               CONTACT: Chris Kellogg, 502-564-2611
November 17, 2003                                                          or Scott Render, 502-564-8747

(Frankfort, KY) -The initial phase of a project that began in the aftermath of the 2001 Martin County coal slurry spill and that is designed to improve mining safety was announced in Frankfort today.  Governor Paul Patton introduced the Kentucky Mine Mapping Information System which begins the process of making an extensive collection of site maps of abandoned and active mines in Kentucky's east and west coalfields available via the Internet.  Other information collected by state agencies such as engineering drawings and annual mine reports which can benefit worker safety, economic development efforts, environmental protection, water quality improvement and increased citizen involvement will also be available as the site develops.   

Governor Patton said that one of his administration's primary goals has been to use technology to improve access to information and to streamline the efficiency of government.  "This project shows yet again how much we accomplish through collaboration among agencies and levels of government.  Not only does the mine mapping project begin the process of committing this information to a technology base that's more readily available, it improves the safety of mines and mining for workers and the environment." 

The system announced today includes area representation of all known historic mining activity and the engineering drawings for mines active during 2002.  Over the next several years, provided funding is maintained, the project will expand to include scanned engineering drawings that are on file for every mine in Kentucky.  State and federal agencies are working together to find the necessary resources for completion of the project.  The project team has submitted a $1.2 million grant request to the U. S. Department of Mine Safety and Health Administration to fund full phasing of the project. 

Nearly all of the 30,000 abandoned mines dating from the mid-1800s to the present have a final engineering drawing on file in the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals.  

Well log information recently made available by the Kentucky Geologic Survey will eventually be incorporated in the site and this information, with the mined out areas, will enable 3-D modeling to assist with well drilling and the siting of industrial, commercial and other development.

 Besides the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining Reclamation, other agencies involved in the web site development include the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals, the Revenue Cabinet, the Transportation Cabinet, the Geologic Survey, the Governor's Office of Technology, the Governor's Office of Empower Kentucky and the Federal Office of Surface Mining.  

The web site is located at http://minemaps.ky.gov 

For additional information about the project contact Scott Render in the Governor's Office of Technology at 502-564-8747 or contact the project manage by email from the website. 

-30-