AFTER THE NOISE - Mining Safety And Environmental Changes Slow Coming

(04/09/2011)

By Bob Weaver Government figures are now showing that the U.S. coal industry remains well short of meeting a 5-year-old congressional mandate to equip underground mines with high-tech communications and tracking gear. The mandate came after the Sago mine disaster in 2006. Dave Chirdon, an official with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, says 192 of 529 coal mines across the country had installed the proper equipment, with nearly 65% of the mines not yet in compliance. Following Sago's deaths of 12 miners, it was re-learned how antiquated the communication systems are, particularly when such systems are needed following disasters. Only 6.4 percent of the mines had installed the equipment a year ago. Few changes have happened since the Upper Big Branch disaster that happened last year that killed 29 miners. While mines will be cited or disciplined for failure to comply, those actions generally wind up in long-delaying cat and mouse actions. Now, the Republican led Congress is leading a movement to de-fund and reduce the power of federal agencies in charge of safety and environmental enforcement, primarily in support of coal operations and mountaintop removal.

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