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About Us Department for Natural Resources

​​​Who are we?​​Department for Natural Resources logo

The Department for Natural Resources ​(KDNR) is home to the divisions of Conservation, Forestry, Oil and Gas,​ Abandoned Mine Lands, Mine Permits, Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, Mine Safety, and the Office of the Reclamation Guaranty Fund. These divisions provide technical assistance, education, and funding to help landowners, institutions, industrie​​s​, and communities in conserving​​ and sustaining Kentucky's natural resources. In addition, the department inspects timber harvests and mining operations to ensure the protection of our citizens, our environment, and our workers.


​​Commissi​​oner'​​s​​​ Office​​

Jim Cable, Commissioner
David Fields, Deputy Commissioner​
Courtney Burgan, Environmental Scientist Consultant
Dawn Baase​​​​​, Environmental Scientist Consultant
Sonia White​, Executive Staff Advisor


​​​​Division of Conservation​

Jay Nelson, Director
Johnna McHugh, Assistant Director​ and Manager, Field Services Branch


​​Division of For​​estry

Brandon Howard, Director
Bridget Abernathy, Assistant Director
Anthony Kenney, Manager, Forest Management Branch
Michael Froelich, Manager, Forest Protection Branch
Amanda Shaw, Manager, Program Support Branch
Seth Dykes, Manager, Campbellsville Branch
Strider Deaver, Manager, Frankfort Branch
Jason Hunt, Manager, Hazard Branch
Stephen Hammond, Manager, Madisionville Branch
James MacDonald, Manager, Morehead Branch
Deanio Carmical, Manager, Pineville Branch


​​​Division of Oil and Gas​

Dennis Hatfield, Director
Gina Cavender, Assistant Director
Richard McCown​, Manager, East Kentucky District Branch
Seth Parrish, Manager, West Kentucky District Branch
VACANT, Manager, Permit Review and Compliance Branch​


​​​​​Division of Abandoned Mine Lands​

Samantha Johnso​n, Director
Bill Overman, Assistant Director
Bob Jones, Manager, Central Region Branch
David Sorrel, Manager, East Region Branch
Bob Scott, Manager, West Region Branch
Jordan Montgomery, Manager, Collaborative Projects Branch
VACANT, Manager, Program Developement Branch
Amy Powers, Manager, Program Management Branch​


​Division of Mine Permits​​

Wes Jones​, Director
VACANT, Assistant Director
Rob Frazier​, Manager, Permit Review and Compliance Branch
Melissa Toles, Manager, Permit Systems and Program Support Branch​


​​Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement​​

Jay Cunningham, Acting Director
Sheri Mullins, Assistant Director
Derrick Slone, Manager, Hazard Branch
Glenn Lacy, Manager, Madisonville Branch
Teddy Taylor, Manager, Middlesboro Branch
Gina McGinnis, Manager, Pikeville Branch
Cameron Mullen, Manager, Noncoal, Explosives and Blasting Branch​
Linda Fischer, Manager, Technical Support Branch


​​Division of Mi​ne Safety

Tim Fugate, Director
Bert Gibbons, Assistant Director
Ernie Hawkins, Manager, Harlan Branch
Ronald Turner, Manager, Hazard Branch
Kenny Mitchell, Manager, Madisonville Branch
James Tackett, Manager, Pikeville Branch​


​​​​Office of the Reclamation ​​Guaranty Fund

Morgan Freeman, Executive Director

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Contact​​​​ Us

Department for Natural Resources
300 Sower Blvd, 2nd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-6940​​​

​Directions to EE​CEEC Map

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
300 Sower Blvd
Frankfort, KY 40601    

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Civil Rights/Derecho Civiles

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability or sex. This policy protects the rights of Cabinet employees, service applicants and customers. Vendors, agencies and organizations providing services to the Cabinet or its recipients of federally-aided programs also must comply with this policy.