Report: Coal-mine emergency plans inadequate

By James R. Carroll • jcarroll@courier-journal.com • April 8, 2008

WASHINGTON — The nation’s coal mines don’t have emergency-response plans that can ensure adequate protection of miners in accidents, according to a just-released report.

The Government Accountability Office says the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration lacked consistency in specifying what should be in the emergency response plans.

In addition, the number of penalties MSHA inspectors have issued for violations of the plans varies widely in different parts of the country, the GAO found.

Meanwhile, many mines still haven’t implemented a way to provide air to trapped miners because there is a shortage of equipment, according to the GAO audit.

The GAO said MSHA also has not determined what kind of underground wireless communications technology should be used in the mines, and it doesn’t plan to dictate any alternatives, contrary to what Congress directed in broad mine-safety legislation it passed two years ago.

The GAO audit was released by Rep, George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and author of pending legislation that would build on the 2006 law requiring the response plans and other safety measures.

“It is outrageous that the very problems that led to the deaths of 12 men at the Sago mine are still problems affecting most mines today,” Miller said, referring to the 2006 West Virginia accident. “Under the Bush administration, MSHA continues to fail to act despite the many promises made to miners and their families on the lessons learned from mining tragedies over the last two years.”

Read more in tomorrow’s Courier-Journal.