Governor asks coal mines to stop production (2 more dead WV)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/01/mine.close.ap/index.html

Two mine workers were killed in separate accidents in West Virginia on Wednesday, prompting Gov. Joe Manchin to call on all coal companies to cease production until safety checks can be conducted.

"We're going to check for unsafe conditions, and we're going to correct any unsafe conditions before we mine another lump of coal," Manchin said.

A miner was killed at an underground mine when a wall support popped loose, said Caryn Gresham, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training.

The second fatality occurred at a surface mine when a bulldozer struck a gas line, sparking a fire and killing the operator, said Dirk Filpott, a spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

[Rose Siding]

1. That ought to get their attention

If this is him putting his foot down on the companies, and not just cosmetics, good for him. :thumbsup:

[roseBudd]

2. Funny Canada doesn't have this problem n/t

[0007]

5. I think Canada has a little more integrity than some of these

greedy companies here. Once they learned to cook the books everyone was doing it, same as cutting corners and keeping cost low so CEO's can have a biggest piece of the pie is what's it all about.

[amandabeech]

8. I don't think that Canada has as many mines going full blast,

either, particularly not underground mining.

Nonetheless, I agree with you that Canada undoubtedly has stiffer safety rules and actually enforces them with real fines.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. manchin's a coal compnay stooge

a rw republicrat.

he's known for a long time the mines were unsafe. he's basically being forced to do this-otherwise, the public would turn on him and his approval would come down off his milking-the-tragedy high of 80%

[brer cat]

4. I'm all for mine safety...but

who's going to pay the miners while the mines are closed? I would be REALLY impressed if the Gov. made sure the miners were paid living wage while the mines were inspected and made safe. The companies involved should have the hardship, NOT the miners.

[hezekkia]

7. i dunno, Gov. Manchin seems pretty sincere

from what I can tell. You know King George wouldn't have shut down any coal mines. might piss off his friends at Halliburton and other energy companies.

[spinbaby]

9. Manchin is a Democrat

I don't know that much about him--it's been years since I lived in WV--but he seems surprisingly upright considering he's the nephew of A. James Manchin.

[WhiteTara]

6. the * admnistration is doing a heck of a job

we don't need no stinkin OSHA!

[spinbaby]

10. OSHA doesn't do mines

MSHA does mines.

www.msha.gov