West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd is blocking the confirmation of the person President Bush has picked to oversee U.S. mine safety. Byrd, a Democrat, said Tuesday he needs more assurances that Richard Stickler will be a strong leader at the Mine Safety and Health Administration, especially in light of accidents that have left 24 miners dead this year.
Byrd said he is trying to meet with Stickler, who previously headed Pennsylvania's mine safety agency and also worked as an industry executive. ''MSHA's political leadership seems to have lost sight in recent years that miners' safety and health is that agency's top priority,'' Byrd said. ''Until I know that Mr. Stickler will make safety job No. 1 at MSHA, I will not allow his nomination to move forward.''
Byrd said he wants to learn more about Stickler's views on key issues, including the need for better communications devices and a more aggressive fine structure. Under Senate rules, any single senator can block nominations or legislation. In response to questions from The Associated Press, Byrd acknowledged he was blocking the nomination.
Stickler faced tough questioning from senators during his confirmation hearing earlier this year, shortly after 14 miners were killed in two accidents at the Sago and Alma No. 1 mines in West Virginia. Stickler and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., disagreed over whether a mine rescue team should be required at every underground coal mine. Kennedy said the current policy allowing teams to be two hours away isn't sufficient, but Stickler said requiring each coal mine to have a team on hand isn't realistic.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Mine-Administrator.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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