The Energy and Environment Cabinet consists of three departments, several commissions and the Office of the Secretary that serve the taxpayers of Kentucky in many capacities.   Click on any of the links to take you directly to the agency's Web site for additional information. 

Office of Administrative Hearings--holds administrative, adjudicatory hearings regarding air, water, waste and surface mining violations.

Office of Inspector General--conducts administrative and criminal investigations involving the cabinet, including violations of environmental laws and other violations of state statutes and cabinet policies.

Office of Legal Services--provides legal advice and representation to the various departments, offices and commissions within the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.

Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs--provides oversight for the development of cabinet legislation and interaction with members of the General Assembly. It coordinates evolvement of legislation from the departments and offices and ensures compliance with cabinet and administration goals and objectives.

Division for Air Quality--protects human health and the environment by achieving and maintaining acceptable air quality.

Division of Compliance Assistance--enables excellence in environmental compliance, recognizes environmental leadership and facilitates activities that enhance the welfare of Kentucky’s citizens and environment.

Division of Enforcement--uses a clear and consistent approach in bringing about and maintaining compliance with the cabinet’s regulatory programs by using appropriate and reasonable measures to resolve cases in a timely manner.

Division of Environmental Program Support --provides centralized laboratory testing for the cabinet.

Division of Waste Management-- protects human health and the environment by minimizing adverse impacts on all citizens through the development and implementation of fair, equitable and effective waste management programs. 

Division of Water-- manages, protects and enhances the water resources of the commonwealth for present and future generations through voluntary, regulatory and educational programs.

Division of Abandoned Mine Lands--works throughout the state’s coal fields to protect the public from health and safety problems.

Division of Conservation--assists Kentucky's 121 local conservation districts in the development and implementation of sound soil and water conservation programs. The division also ensures the availability of technical and financial assistance to the landowners and land users of Kentucky.

Division of Forestry--protects and enhances the forest resources of the commonwealth by informing the public of the environmental and economic importance of these resources.

Division of Mine Permits--reviews all permit applications to conduct surface coal mining and reclamation operations in the commonwealth and to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement--inspects all surface and underground coal mining permits in Kentucky to assure compliance with the 1977 Federal Surface Mining Control Act.

Division of Oil and Gas Conservation--fosters conservation of all mineral resources, encourages the exploration of such resources, protects the correlative rights of land and mineral owners, prohibits waste and unnecessary surface loss and damage, and encourages the maximum recovery of oil and gas from all deposits.

Office of Mine Safety and Licensing--ensures that all coal miners in the state are provided with a safe working environment and provided with effective coal miners' education and training that fosters safe work practices. It also ensures that statutes and regulations regarding coal mining, the sale, storage and use of explosives, and the production of oil and natural gas are enforced fairly and consistently.

Visit us at www.energy.ky.gov

Environmental Quality Commission--facilitates public discussion and resolution of environmental issues, monitors environmental trends and conditions, and promotes partnerships to improve and protect the environment for future generations. 

Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission--protects Kentucky's natural heritage by identifying, acquiring and managing natural areas and working with others to protect biological diversity.  The commission educates Kentuckians as to the value and purpose of nature preserves and biodiversity conservation.

Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund--provides funding for natural areas that possess unique features such as habitat for rare and endangered species, areas important to migratory birds, areas that perform important natural functions that are subject to alteration or loss, and areas to be preserved in their natural state for public use, outdoor recreation and education.

Mine Safety Review Commission--protects the health and safety of the coal industry's most valuable resource--the coal miner.  It also helps to upgrade enforcement of coal mine safety regulations.

Public Service Commission--regulates more than 1,500 gas, water, sewer, electric and telecommunication utilities operating in the commonwealth of Kentucky and has approximately 100 employees.