Whitley Co. getting $6,212.50 state refund for mining permits, acreage fees

Gov. Matt Bevin announced Thursday that fiscal courts in 29 counties, including Whitley, Knox and Laurel, will receive refunds totaling $149,425 from mining permit and acreage fees. The amounts of refunds are based on acreage fees paid by coal companies.

The Kentucky Department for Natural Resources collects mine permit and acreage fees and returns a portion of those fees to coal-producing counties for projects to be determined by the local fiscal courts.

Whitley County is getting $6,212.50. Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens said the money will be deposited into the county’s road fund.

Knox County is getting $1,591.67. Laurel County is getting $375. Bell County is getting $12,525.

The Department for Natural Resources is an agency of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.