WASHINGTON — The Mine Safety and Health Administration requested $332 million for the 2009 fiscal year, an increase over its last request but lower than what Congress ultimately approved for 2008.

MSHA requested $145 million for Coal Mine Safety and Health in 2009, about $9.7 million less than what Congress pushed through in the 2008 budget but $5 million more than what the administration requested for the current fiscal year.

The differences in numbers illustrate just a part of the complicated budget and appropriations process in Congress. Monday's budget numbers mark the start of the lengthy debate between the White House, the House and the Senate over how numbers will shape up for fiscal 2009. The White House submits its request, but Congress ultimately decides final budget amounts Bush would sign into law.

Federal agencies point out that what Congress approves can contain earmarks or other special projects not originally offered up by the administration.

Richard Stickler, assistant secretary of Labor for mine safety and health, explained that the $20 million difference between the 2008 request and what Congress approved is made up from "non-reoccurring expenses" such as roof improvements and contracts that will not need to take place in 2009.

About $10 million of this was part of what MSHA called the "100 Percent Plan," which rotated MSHA inspectors to different sites around the country to allow the agency to complete 100 percent of safety inspections while new inspectors were in training. Money needed in 2008 for overtime or travel expenses will not be needed in 2009, according to MSHA.

But the lower amount from what Congress approved for 2008, particularly for coal, does not sit well with United Mine Workers of America International president Cecil E. Roberts.

"President Bush has told America's coal miners that he doesn't care about making the improvements so clearly needed to keep them safe and healthy on the job," Roberts said. "Mandatory inspections of coal mines aren't getting done because MSHA doesn't have enough trained, qualified inspectors to do them. Fines for over 4,000 of those who did get caught violating the law weren't assessed, and even when they are assessed, they frequently aren't collected."

As for the effect of last year's Crandall Canyon Mine accident on the budget numbers, Stickler said the agency's investigation into the collapse that trapped and killed six miners and killed three rescuers is ongoing.

"We have not identified the root causes," Stickler said.

Last year's tragedy brought renewed criticism over MSHA's budget, with experts pointing to cuts to federal mine safety enforcement during Bush's term.

A Deseret Morning News review of the administration's fiscal year requests done last year found that while the White House requests increased slightly each year from the 2002 to 2006 fiscal years, the requests did not exceed or even match what Congress had approved in each prior year when adjusted for inflation.

---

E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com