(US) Senate mine hearing to eye enforcement problems

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hBMtCSmiKPyFnlYDXbpopTm-ZGpwD9F2EC7O0

By SAM HANANEL (AP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The Senate plans to explore weaknesses in federal mine safety laws when it convenes the first of a series of hearings this month on the deadly mining disaster in West Virginia.

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will meet April 27 to look at whether the system encourages mine operators to challenge safety violations and delay penalties.

"What we will be looking at are weaknesses in our laws that provide incentives for employers to skimp and cut back on health and safety measures," Harkin, D-Iowa, said in an interview.

Harkin, who chairs the committee, said he doesn't expect the initial hearing to explore specific causes of the explosion that killed 29 mine workers.

There is no witness list yet, but it could be the first time that Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is called to testify about the accident at the Upper Big Branch mine his company owns.

President Barack Obama is meeting on Thursday with federal labor and mine safety officials to discuss preliminary data on what may have caused the accident.

FULL story and photos at link.