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Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources

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Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources

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General information
Office Type:  Nonpartisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $113,400
2025 FY Budget:  $248,497,600
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(s)
Other Kentucky Executive Offices
GovernorLieutenant GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorCommissioner of EducationAgriculture CommissionerInsurance CommissionerNatural Resources CommissionerLabor Cabinet SecretaryPublic Service Commission

The Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources is an appointed state executive position in the Kentucky state government. The commissioner serves as head of the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources. The commissioner is selected by and serves at the pleasure of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.[1]

Current officeholder

The current Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources is Gordon Slone (nonpartisan). Slone assumed office in 2020.

Authority

The department for natural resources is established in the Kentucky Revised Statutes.[1]

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.

Qualifications

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Appointments

The commissioner is appointed by the energy and environment cabinet.[1]

Vacancies

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Duties

The Kentucky revised statutes list the following 14 duties of the commissioner:[1]

  • 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

[2]

Divisions

As of January 18, 2021, divisions within the Department for Natural Resources included:[3]

  • Conservation
  • Forestry
  • Oil & Gas
  • Mine Permits
  • Abandoned Mine Lands
  • Mine Safety
  • mine Reclamation & Enforcement
  • Office of the Kentucky Reclamation Guaranty Fund

State budget

See also: Kentucky state budget and finances

The Department for Natural Resources' budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $248,497,600.[4]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $113,400, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $105,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

2021

In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $105,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

2020

In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $100,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2019

In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $105,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2018

In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $105,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2017

In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $100,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]

2016

In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $95,238 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]

2015

In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $101,220 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]

2014

In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $100,218 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]

2013

In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $100,218 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2012

In 2012, the commissioner received a salary of $95,445 according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Kentucky Commissioner of Natural Resources has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Kentucky Commissioner Natural Resources. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Contact information

Department for Natural Resources
300 Sower Blvd. 2nd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-6940

See also

Kentucky State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Kentucky State Executive Offices
Kentucky State Legislature
Kentucky Courts
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Kentucky elections: 20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kentucky Revised Statutes, " 351.020 Commission of Department for Natural Resources," accessed January 18, 2021
  2. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. Kentucky Department for Natural Resources," accessed January 18, 2021
  4. Kentucky Office of State Budget Director, "2024-2026 Budget of the Commonwealth," accessed January 17, 2025
  5. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
  6. Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  7. Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  8. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
  9. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
  10. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
  11. Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
  12. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  13. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  14. Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 24, 2014
  15. The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014