Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid (workers to breath more dust

[papau]

After Clinton rejected the idea in 97, Bush approves more coal dust in workers lungs.

http://www.lcv.org/News/News.cfm?orgid=Insider081204&ID=3088&c=27&UID=1016930BDB1FAA8238&MX=381&H=1

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid

Christopher Drew and Richard A. Oppel Jr., New York Times
August 9, 2004

WASHINGTON - As head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, David Lauriski has proposed a measure that could allow some operators to let coal-dust levels rise substantially, despite objections by union officials and health experts that it could put miners at greater risk of black-lung disease.

The reintroduction of the coal dust measure came after the federal agency had abandoned a series of Clinton-era safety proposals favored by coal miners while embracing others favored by mine owners.

The agency's effort to rewrite coal regulations is part of a broader push by the Bush administration to help an industry that had been out of favor in Washington. As a candidate four years ago, Mr. Bush promised to expand energy supplies, in part by reviving coal's fortunes.<snip>

In addition to Mr. Lauriski, who spent 30 years in the coal industry, Mr. Bush tapped a handful of other industry executives and lobbyists to help oversee safety and environmental regulations.


================================================================
From LCV News Briefs:
"Last year, it (a measure that could allow some operators to let coal-dust levels rise substantially in mines) found enthusiastic backing from one government official -- Mr. Lauriski himself. Now head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, he revived the proposal despite objections by union officials and health experts that it could put miners at greater risk of black-lung disease.
"The reintroduction of the coal dust measure came after the federal agency had abandoned a series of Clinton-era safety proposals favored by coal miners while embracing others favored by mine owners."

[redandstinky]

1. Bush, Coal, and Enviro cuts

Here's a short article on some of the worst aspects of Bush's enviro polcy including the coal issue:

http://classwarnotes.blogspot.com/2004/08/bushs-environmental-policies-and-you.html

It's based on a new report form the National Priorities Project, which also makes useful reading.