The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is an independent administrative section of the Office of the Secretary within the Energy and Environment Cabinet. OAH conducts administrative adjudicatory hearings regarding air, water, waste, forestry, oil and gas, and mining (coal and non-coal) violations upon the filing of a petition or complaint, and recommends to the Cabinet Secretary final agency action. OAH also conducts proceedings regarding Cabinet permitting actions, penalty assessments and offers mediation services.
OAH reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary. As an independent office, OAH is not affiliated with the Cabinet's regulatory programs, inspectors, or the Office of Legal Services. OAH proceedings, including hearings, are conducted by environmental administrative hearing officers who are licensed attorneys as well as full-time OAH employees. Please contact OAH staff if we may be of assistance to you.
OAH NOTICE OF EXTENSION OF MARCH 19, 2020
PROCEDURES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY
As a result of the continued State of Emergency declared in response to the novel coronavirus (“Covid-19”), and to protect the health and safety of those persons appearing before the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”), OAH hereby continues through May 1, 2020, or until such time that state restrictions regarding the virus are lifted, the procedures contained in its March 19, 2020 Notice of Procedures in Response to COVID-19 Emergency. These procedures are already posted on the OAH and the Cabinet’s Covid-19 websites. This includes the prohibition on in-person conferences or formal hearings. Conferences will continue to be conducted telephonically. All requests for temporary relief or other emergency hearings should be discussed with the Hearing Officer and counsel, and if necessary, the Executive Director, to discuss the practicality of remote proceedings.
Any questions should be directed to OAH at EECOAHFILINGS@KY.GOV, or at (502) 564-7312.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
NOTICE OF PROCEDURES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY
On March 6, 2020, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-215 declaring a State of Emergency in response to the novel coronavirus (the "virus"). To protect the health and safety of Energy and Environment Cabinet ("Cabinet") employees, including Office of Administrative Hearings ("OAH") staff, and those members of the public appearing before the agency, OAH implements the filing and hearing procedures set forth, below. These procedures are effective March 19, 2020 through April 17, 2020, or until such time that state restrictions regarding the virus are lifted. ACCESS FULL NOTICE HERE.