Published: June 25, 2007 07:06 pm         

Byrd lands millions in funding for mine safety provisions

Millions of dollars meant to trigger key provisions of the federal MINER Act, a sweeping coal safety law inspired largely by tragedies in his home state, have been landed by Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia.

Byrd’s efforts resulted in $13 million beyond what President Bush suggested to enhance the ability of the Mine Safety and Health Administration to perform all mandatory inspections, train new inspectors, expedite the issuance of standards and regulations on belt-air and refuge chambers and improve the transfer of technology.

“We have seen some progress since the MINER Act was passed, but too many delays,” Byrd, a Democrat, said. “The longer there are delays in implementing the new federal standards, the longer coal miners’ lives are placed needlessly at risk. We’ve got to take steps to save lives. The longer we wait to make positive changes in mine safety, the more risk coal miners face on the job.”

Byrd’s efforts led to approval of $3 million above the president’s budget for the National Mine and Safety Academy in Beckley to continue infrastructure improvements.

Another $2.2 million is going to the United Mine Workers of America to provide classroom and simulated rescue training for mine rescue teams at its Beckley career center.

The senator’s package also includes $6 million for black lung clinics; $10 million higher than Bush’s request for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for disaster prevention, dust control and monitoring, roof control, technology transfer, and training programs associated with coal mining safety; and $1.35 million for Wheeling Jesuit to continue a coal slurry impoundment project for the National Technology Transfer Center.

Congress produced the MINER Act in response to the Jan. 2, 2006, tragedy at the Sago mine, where 13 miners were trapped underground after an explosion rumbled through the Upshur County installation.

Only one of the workers survived the ordeal.

Less than two weeks later, two men perished in a conveyor belt fire at a mine in Logan County, prompting Gov. Joe Manchin to gain passage by the Legislature of new safety legislation to address responses to accidents.

“We need swift action to protect the safety of our nation’s miners, and that will take resources,” Byrd said.

Byrd said the funding assures that MSHA can perform its mission in mine safety so that the welfare of workers won’t be “compromised for personal profit or politics.”

“I am proud to be leading the fight to protect our miners; it is a moral responsibility and will not stop until I know that miners and their families have the best protections and the best safety enforcement possible,” the senator said.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com