If there is a sense of urgency is needed than the deaths of 29 miners last April in West Virginia, Congressional lawmakers better listen the latest news from the Upper bough mine where the explosion occurred. A company electrician has admitted that he was sentenced to a methane detector alarm bypass when they kept interrupting the supply of coal.
The high risk silencing, first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, came two months before the tragedy and four miles away. But a grand jury is reportedly looking into a possible pattern of the detector-manipulation, a practice prohibited by the company, Massey Energy, firmly denies.
As the investigation into the biggest disaster in my work 40 years, Congress has the usual study in partial obstruction, the Republicans no hurry to fatal workplace risks to correct exposed by the disaster. Most Democrats’ reform measure, endorsed by the Obama administration would face down on reckless mining companies with stricter supervision and criminal penalties, a subpoena powers examine crack, and protection against dismissal of workers who dare to complain about the risks for life below.
Congressional Republicans, like the message of Big Coal, complaining that a rush to make new law. One of their most influential colleagues, Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, is the need for action is now clear. The proposal he co-sponsors is focused on recidivism of mining regulations, including Massey Energy, the penalty system, expanded game justice. Also, better control of methane and coal dust and crack down on the practice of advance warning when federal investigators approach.
When the bough disaster, a terrorist act, would Republicans be jamming the legislative hopper with antidote. But miners dead? No hurry, although it is clear that existing regulations are porous, and under forced into tears be repaired by a responsible Congress.
source:nytimes
Saturn Minerals Advises Swift Resources of Potential Dilution in Coal Joint Venture
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Saturn Minerals Inc (CA:SMI 0. . . Read more »
33 Chile miners joy as rescue tunnel reaches underground space
The 33 miners buried for nearly half a mile below the Chilean desert yesterday cheered and hugged as a drilling rig and reached their underground prison. . . Read more »