The House in January passed a new mine safety bill — after the families of Crandall Canyon victims sent a letter endorsing it and asking for action.

"We asked for change to assure that our government, through MSHA, is really enforcing safety in the mining industry and not turning a blind eye to dangerous mining practices," the family members wrote. "The bill will also improve the way families are treated after a disaster occurs."

Republicans opposed the bill, and Bush threatened a veto, saying it would complicate existing safety rules.

MSHA, meanwhile, has been acting to issue rules to implement that 2006 mine safety act. For example, in June it proposed a rule requiring coal mines to provide refuges underground that can sustain life for miners who are unable to escape during accidents.

As that was issued, Stickler said MSHA in 18 months had published six final rules in the Federal Register, issued an Emergency Temporary Standard and proposed four additional rules. He said rules had never come at such a fast pace previously.

He also said MSHA also had a net increase of 163 inspectors over the past two years to help increase the pace of inspections — but critics such as Miller have said the rules are still coming too slowly.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com; jlee@desnews.com CRANDALL CANYON

Faiths united in wake of mine collapse.

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