Tolerating Death in the Mines, NY Times Editorial 2/5/06

[Coastie for Truth]

Federal safety officials, faced with the death of two more West Virginia miners, are asking the coal industry to "stand down for safety" tomorrow to check the nation's mines for lethal working conditions. This smacks of public relations more than worker protection. The safety agency, notorious for its political appointees from the coal industry, is also suddenly finding more inspectors for West Virginia, which has suffered 16 miner deaths recently.

The tragedies have laid bare the passivity and pro-industry bias in the Bush administration's stewardship of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Last month, the chief of the now-galvanized agency cavalierly announced more pressing business and walked out of a Congressional hearing into the initial West Virginia deaths, even as shocked lawmakers still had key questions unanswered.

We're glad that West Virginia's government has finally enacted laws requiring that miners be equipped with wireless communication and location devices, better oxygen supplies and faster, more organized rescue crews. Five other states are considering similar steps, but the crying need is for the administration to make this a national issue. In Canada, 72 miners were rescued after 20 hours thanks to underground "refuge stations" required by law to be stocked with oxygen, food and water. No such protection was at hand for the West Virginia victims.

The administration should join West Virginia lawmakers calling for tougher inspections, penalties and safety equipment under federal law. The deaths showed that companies have too much leeway in running rescue efforts, and too little concern for crackdowns by the federal mine agency.

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Coastie's Comment:

I grew up in a small coal mining town south east of Pittsburgh PA - near the West Virginia border. My Dad was a lawyer for the UMWA. The tipple was just a few miles down PA-885 from our house.

The editorial concludes by saying that we can not tolerate a pro-industry bias by government.

[Spankydem]

1. Excellent

how come nothing on the olive trees.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. This is another horrible stain on the present admin and the state of WV

:kick: