LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration agreed Wednesday to pay a former state mine regulator $270,000 to settle a wrongful termination case that raised questions about the coal industry’s influence within the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

Ron Mills, former director of mine permits for the state agency, alleged in a lawsuit that he was fired in November 2009 for contesting illegal coal mining practices. He later filed the lawsuit saying he was wrongly terminated.