Outreach effort aims to give citizens "news they can use"

Contact:  Jennifer A. Thompson 502-564-6940

HAZARD, Ky. (Sept. 12, 2006) – What is Kentucky doing to protect coal miners? What are the rights of surface landowners during oil and gas drilling? How do you read and comment on an application for a mine permit? What can be done about wildland arson?

Those are among the many topics the public is invited to explore and discuss during an open house to be held by the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources (DNR) on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, at Hazard Community and Technical College.

The open house, to be held in the First Federal Center, is a way for members of the public to become more familiar with DNR and the services through which it strives to protect people and the environment.

“I believe that engaging the public is vital, and what we learn from them will be of great assistance to DNR in helping us do our jobs better,” said Commissioner Susan Bush, who will be among the DNR personnel on hand. “We want to reach out to the people we serve, to give them news they can use about our activities and who they can contact about concerns.”

The open house will feature displays and presentations on the department’s various divisions and offices – Conservation, Forestry, Abandoned Mine Lands, Mine Permits, Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, Oil and Gas Conservation, and Mine Safety and Licensing.