Kentucky’s mine-safety chief, Johnny Greene, is retiring
From: Courrier-Journal.com
FRANKFORT, KY. — The director of the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing, who has earned high marks from both safety advocates and industry experts, is retiring this month after more than two decades with the state.
A spokesman for the state Energy and Environment Cabinet confirmed that Johnny Greene submitted his retirement to Cabinet Secretary Len Peters on Tuesday, citing plans to spend more time with family.
Greene worked in various positions at the office over 21 years and has spent a total of more than 40 years in the mining industry.
His retirement takes effect Dec. 31.
“I am saddened by Johnny’s decision to retire, despite my best efforts to persuade him to stay with us,” Peters said in a statement. “Johnny brought a unique skill set to his job and a professionalism that will be hard to duplicate.”
The director’s position oversees safety for all surface and underground mining operations in the state, along with training and accident investigations.
Peters will recommend a successor to Greene, but the appointment will be made by Gov. Steve Beshear.
Bill Bissett, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, praised Greene for emphasizing collaboration between the industry and mining regulators.
He said Greene’s replacement should have experience with surface and underground mining, state and federal law, and a strong understanding of training and mine rescue.
Tony Oppegard, a mine safety attorney and advocate, expressed concerns that Beshear is too closely aligned with the coal industry to appoint a director that will stress safety to the same degree as Greene.
“We’ve taken a major step backward in mine safety in the last year in Kentucky, and now is not the time to replace a safety advocate with someone from the industry who is more interested in coal production than they are in miner safety,” he said.
Beshear declined to comment on the matter.
