Delays on MINER Act bemoaned
President Bush signed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, known as the MINER Act, last year, but union leaders and mining-industry experts have complained that not all of the new requirements have been put into place and that mines are not following the rules.
"The job is not done," said Dennis O'Dell, administrator of Occupational Health and Safety for the United Mine Workers of America at a House Subcommittee on Workplace Protection hearing July 26.
Congress passed the safety reforms after a dozen miners were killed in an underground explosion in West Virginia. The reforms were meant to protect miners in the event of a fire, explosion or cave-in like last year's disaster at the Sago Mine. But government-mandated changes involving communication and tracking equipment do not take effect until 2009.
Phil Smith, spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America, said Tuesday that even with the MINER Act in place, the situation for miners is "no better" than it was when the Sago accident occurred because key rules are taking too long to be finalized.
Smith said that if communications and tracking tools mandated by the MINER law had been in place at the Utah mine, rescue crews looking for the six miners would know "exactly where they are and how they are." He added that the mining companies are not likely to put the stronger safety requirements in place "unless and until someone tells them to," so it is up to the government to move the process along.
Among other requirements, the new law calls for mines to install wireless two-way communications and an electronic tracking system, permitting rescuers on the surface to locate miners trapped underground. The law also requires mines to have two experienced rescue teams available and capable of a one-hour response time.
Also waiting to go into effect are rules dealing with refuge chambers, additional mine rescue teams and stronger seals between active and inactive mine shafts. The law gives the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) until the end of this year to deal with these issues.
MSHA had issued 33 citations this year for health and safety violations at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah, a dozen of which were considered significant and substantial. Among those, the mine was cited for not having at least two mine rescue teams available at all times when miners are underground.
Because of purchasing delays, the mine also did not have the required equipment in place to provide 96 hours of air, food and water. A federal official said manufacturing delays had prevented the Utah mine from stockpiling the required four days of food, water and oxygen.
Comments
- Canal breaks, causes landslide in Logan 1:07 p.m.
- Reptile Lou won't eat 1:06 p.m.
- Three injured in South Ogden shooting 1:05 p.m.
- Upsets at Saturday's State Am 12:27 p.m.
- Luxury home market stalls 12:02 p.m.
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Virginia 'Freedman's' project done 11:12 a.m.
- Teen relive Mormon trek 11:12 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- 10 years after the flood
- LDS seminary principal arrested
262 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
170 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
127 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
76 - Letters: Single-payer system best
75
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Tommy is a Prophet, Seer and Revelator! Not there is a good myth!
The UAW are America workers who once build the largest corporation on earth...
@@mark B | 12:39 p.m. Even George W. Bush was against the surge until his...
It seems the Trail Blazers didn't do much to help themselves, but did do a...
As one who was once falsely accused of similar acts, but later the young girl...
REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN UTAH GAVE TOO MUCH FOR OSTERTAG? iT SCREWED THEM...
These teens re-lived the hardships of the Mormon Trail? Such silly...
Guess what?!! The rest of the world thinks MORMONS ARE NOT MORAL!!!
@If I were Obama | 7:25 a.m. So funny. LMAO with this comment. Just...
"Fight the Power" is trying to make a civil rights analogy here that...


You can be the first to comment on this story.