NYT: Utah Mine Country, After Disaster, Tells Panel It Fears Overregulation

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/26mine.html?ref=us

By DAN FROSCH
Published: September 26, 2007

HUNTINGTON, Utah, Sept. 25 — With quiet voices, their words sometimes husky with emotion, residents of Utah coal country told a state panel on Tuesday that they feared the mines would be overwhelmed by new safety rules after a fatal accident last month.


Ramin Rahimian for The New York Times

The audience at a hearing of the newly established Utah Mine Safety Commission Tuesday in Huntington, Utah.


“We’ve got the right laws in place right now that I think can take care of safety,” Brad Timothy, a longtime miner, said.

Mr. Timothy and 30 others gathered at the Huntington Elementary School gymnasium for the second hearing of the new Mine Safety Commission.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. formed the panel to investigate the state’s role in mine safety after the fatal collapse at the Crandall Canyon Mine near here killed six miners and three rescue workers.

Mr. Huntsman and commission members have suggested that Utah should be more active in regulating its 13 coal mines. They are now overseen by just the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Miners at the hearing viewed the commission with suspicion, and panel members spent considerable time reassuring residents that the state was not bent on closing the mines.

“We are not going to make more rules,” said Mayor Hilary Gordon of Huntington, a member of the commission. “We want to keep the mining industry strong.”

FULL story at link.

[tularetom]

1. Don't make us safe we want the mine owners to kill and maim us

[Justitia]

2. How eager they are to be slaves. Abused slaves. -eom

[HawkerHurricane]

3. "Tell them you're worried about over-regulation...

or we'll close the mine and fire your ass.
Oh, and tell them you're against OSHA.
And make my kids breakfast."