Number of Kentucky mine inspectors to be cut

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is planning on phasing out its Pikeville, Kentucky office in a move that could lead to the loss of as many as 100 of the approximately 150 positions held at the office.

The Independent (http://bit.ly/1CtsrNr ) reports that, over the next 15 months, the administration will split the Pikeville employees’ duties between its offices in Norton, Virginia and Barbourville, Kentucky. Some mine inspector positions will be eliminated, while other employees will be transferred.

The administration says the move is a response to a decline in central Appalachian mining.

Tony Oppegard, a mine safety advocate and attorney who represents miners, says he understands why the move is being made, but is concerned that greater distances between the offices will lengthen the response times of safety inspectors.

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Information from: The Independent, http://www.dailyindependent.com

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