Overview

• The Kentucky House approved House Bill 85, allowing small coal mines to reduce the number of miners with emergency medical training per shift.
• Critics argue the bill compromises miner safety for financial benefits, a concern heightened by a past mining fatality in Kentucky.
• Supporters claim the measure is necessary to keep small mining operations afloat during the industry's downturn.
• The bill reduces the required number of mine emergency technicians from two to one for shifts with 15 or fewer miners.
• Coal employment in Kentucky has significantly declined over the last decade, influenced by cheaper natural gas and environmental regulations.