June 21, 2007
 
Mollohan Joins with Rahall, California's George Miller as Original Cosponsor of Mine Safety and Health Initiative
 
By HNN Staff
from Mollohan news release
 
Washington, DC (HNN) -- Congressman Alan Mollohan is an original cosponsor of a new package of legislation to help improve health and safety in U.S. mines.
 
Mollohan said the legislation, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Nick Rahall of WV and George Miller of CA, would improve mine emergency response plans, strengthen the ability of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to enforce health and safety regulations, strengthen rescue, recovery and accident investigation practices, and update standards to prevent today's miners from developing black lung disease.
 
He said that the initiative is a follow-up to last year's MINER Act that was passed by Congress to address immediate concerns about mine safety and emergency preparedness after the loss of 47 miners in 2006 - the most dangerous year for coal miners in a decade.
 
"We have an obligation to do everything possible to protect lives in an inherently dangerous business," Mollohan said. "I welcome the opportunity this legislation brings to make sure the focus remains on safety considerations. Our Nation no longer takes its energy sources for granted. We need to make sure we don't take the safety of the men and women who bring us that energy for granted."
 
The legislation (H.R. 2768 and H.R. 2769) would establish an independent ombudsman to ensure proper attention to miner complaints of unsafe conditions and to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. Coal miners and family members who lost loved ones in mining accidents testified before Congress in March that they faced blacklisting or retaliation if they spoke up about unsafe working conditions. In addition, the bills would:

• Require underground mines to move quickly to install proven technologies to help prevent emergencies and protect miners' lives if accidents occur;
  
• Prevent witness coercion and conflicts of interest during accident investigations;
  
• Allow supplemental investigations by the independent Chemical Safety Board if requested by representatives of miners or families;
  
• Ban the use of conveyor belt tunnels to ventilate mines; and
  
• Update the 40-year-old exposure limits for hundreds of toxic substances and set improved requirements to protect miners from asbestos exposure.