(Coal mine photo courtesy US Geographical Survey)
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Thirty-four counties will soon be sharing $580,000 collected from fees paid by coal companies.
The Department for Natural Resources collects mining permit fees and acreage fees and returns a portion to coal-producing counties to pay for community projects.
Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday the money benefits the state's coal-producing counties, though for most counties it's not a huge amount. The refunds range from $62 for McCreary County to $111,948 for Pike County.
Eleven counties will receive more than $23,000 each.
