Natural Resources Commissioner Fired

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...One of Kentucky's top mining regulators was fired Tuesday. Natural Resources Commissioner Carl Campbell was informed of his termination in a brief letter that said the action was being taken "without cause." Campbell had served 25 years in the former Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Kentucky Mining Association President Bill Bissett said he was unaware of any issues the industry had with Campbell. As head of the Department for Natural Resources since 2008, Campbell had oversight of mine safety and licensing, mine permits, abandoned mine lands, mine reclamation and enforcement, forestry, and oil and natural gas drilling. Beshear spokeswoman Kerri Richardson confirmed Campbell's dismissal, saying the decision was made at the cabinet level by Environmental Secretary Len Peters, not by Beshear.