Authorities Vow to Close Mines Found to Be Unsafe

[babylonsister]

Authorities Vow to Close Mines Found to Be Unsafe
By IAN URBINA
Published: April 27, 2010


WASHINGTON — Federal regulators told Congress on Tuesday that they would become more aggressive in enforcing mine safety laws, vowing to close mines with repeated safety violations and shut down sections of mines when inspectors find serious violations.

At a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee — the first since a West Virginia mine explosion left 29 miners dead earlier this month — Joseph A. Main, who leads the Mine Safety and Health Administration, said too many mining companies appealed violations rather than corrected the problem.

“The current system provides a financial benefit for delaying tactics,” Mr. Main said, adding that regulators have compounded the problem by failing to close mines that repeatedly violate safety rules.

To reduce stalling, he called for a law requiring mine operators to pay penalties into escrow accounts before appeals were settled. He also called for his agency to be granted subpoena power to require companies to turn over documents promptly, and for lawmakers to strengthen criminal penalties carried by some mining violations so the threat of jail time became real.

Lawmakers and regulators strongly criticized Massey Energy, the company that owns the Upper Big Branch mine, where the miners were killed. They cited new data highlighting the company’s recalcitrance in correcting dangerous conditions.

“There is unfortunately a population of employers that prioritize profits over safety and knowingly and repeatedly violate the law,” said Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa and the committee chairman.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/us/28mine.html

[Kdillard]

1. Good hopefully this tragedy will spur better mine safety.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Wow! Would that be similar "authorities" who claimed Iraq had WMD or that NOW we have to be

afraid of mean ole Iran?

Forgive me if I don't trust "the authorities" of any part of our government as far as I could throw their bloated asses? :thumbsdown:

[FrenchieCat]

4. Not, not the same authorities........

And you don't need to "trust" anything,
as the proof will be in actions taken.....

Of course, your negativity makes you quite incredible these days,
but I'm sure you realize that. If this Administration cured Cancer,
you'd be pissed that it wasn't done a long time ago.....so, no pleasing you,
no matter what is done is your earned MO.

[Cha]

3. Too bad it took a tragedy like this

to make people more aware..but, isn't that usually the way?

Employers who frown on safety regulations and Unions getting involved leave their employees wide open for the unexpected to happen without a safety net.