MSHA issues new mine-rescue rules

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The nation's underground coal mines must have better trained and equipped rescue teams within an hour away — cutting the maximum response time in half — under new rules issued Friday by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

"This regulation will help ensure that no matter where or when a mine accident occurs, dedicated men and women will be readily available and properly trained to assist in the rescue of their comrades underground," acting MSHA director Richard Stickler said in a statement. The agency said the rules apply to 653 underground coal mines with more than 50,000 employees and contract workers across the country.

The rules are required by a mine safety law Congress adopted after the deaths of 12 men from an explosion at the Sago Mine in January 2006 and two other high-profile accidents that year that killed seven more West Virginia and Kentucky coal miners.

One of the key provisions is that mines must have rescue stations located no more than an hour away by ground. Previous rules set a two-hour response time.

Each mine also must have two rescue teams and a person familiar with how to respond to a mine emergency present on each shift.

The rules also require teams to practice 96 hours a year, up from 40. MSHA says that must include training in smoky conditions, as well as training at mines were they serve and participation in two local mine rescue contests annually.

The rules aren't proving popular with the industry.

"MSHA evidently dismissed most all the revisions proposed by the entire coal community — revisions that would have built more flexibility in how rescue teams and safety training could be strengthened," National Mining Association spokesman Luke Popovich said.

Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Caylor said one problem is the original legislation failed to recognize state mine rescue teams. Kentucky historically has relied on rescue teams from the ranks of state inspectors.

"The law ignored that and I think that's a detriment to safety," Caylor said. "These are excellent teams. ... They're generally familiar with each mine and they practice a lot. They're top of the line."

Caylor also wonders how much it will cost to equip and train enough rescuers to meet the rules' requirement of two teams per mine.