Kentucky
Surface Mining Information System (SMIS)
The Energy and Environment Cabinet describes the Kentucky Surface Mining Information System (SMIS) as a database used to track all permitting and enforcement actions on coal mining activity in Kentucky. The mining divisions of the Cabinet's Department for Natural Resources are charged with the permitting, inspection and reclamation of mines. SMIS links to DocTree, the document management system of the Division of Mine Permits and the Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, in a public version that includes publicly accessible documents.
In a Phase I ESA
ASTM E1527-21 does not name coal mining permit records among its standard record sources. On a property in a coal field they are the record of what was permitted, what was inspected and what was found.
The Cabinet gives these as examples of what SMIS holds:
- the status of pending and issued permit applications;
- general background on permitted coal mining operations;
- inspection background and frequency;
- the status of mining activity;
- past or pending violation problems;
- performance bond information.
Two more mining sources sit beside it.
- Mine maps. The mining pages link a Mine Mapping Information System of Kentucky coal mine maps and a Surface Mining Interactive Viewer. This handbook did not open them.
- Abandoned mine lands. The Division of Abandoned Mine Lands works in the state's coal fields to protect the public from health and safety problems caused by historic coal mining that occurred before 1982. Its Bond Forfeiture Reclamation Program reclaims coal mine sites where the permitted operator failed to comply with federal and state law on mining or reclamation. Its emergency line is 1-877-495-9552, and the division is at 502-564-2141.
Where to look a site up
- SMIS and DocTree are linked from the Cabinet's Surface Mining Information System page.
- The Cabinet says neither works with Internet Explorer, recommends Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge on a large screen, and says the SMIS database is refreshed nightly from 1:00 to 2:30 a.m. EST, when it is unavailable.
Getting the file
The Cabinet says additional documents may be requested through its open records process. Requests go by email to EEC.KORA@ky.gov, with as much detail as possible about the records sought, and the Cabinet has a request form for the Department for Natural Resources. Only residents of the Commonwealth, as the Open Records page defines them, may request to inspect public records.
Sources
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet pages, read October 12, 2026, no modified date shown: