Chairman Miller Says MSHA Report on Aracoma Alma Explosion Shows More Should Have Been Done to Prevent Tragedy
Miller Also Discloses that MSHA Has Refused His Request on Mine Seals

Thursday, March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's report on the 2006 Aracoma Alma mine explosion that killed two workers shows that more aggressive law enforcement could have prevented the tragedy.

 "I am outraged that these mine operators intentionally skirted basic health and safety regulations and that MSHA allowed it," said Rep. Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.  "It will be little consolation to the families who lost loved ones that MSHA fined Aracoma after the accident. 

"When mine operators choose to flaut basic safety requirements, MSHA has to be there aggressively to prevent such tragedies before they happen," said Miller. "Instead of weakening standards and using its resources to provide so-called compliance assistance, MSHA should be issuing tougher standards and enforcing them strongly to protect workers from irresponsible mine operators."   

Miller also disclosed today that MSHA had refused his urgent request to issue an emergency rule to immediately require stronger seals in mines to prevent explosions.  Seals are used to cordon off unused sections of a mine to prevent deadly gases from migrating to the active portion of the mine and to create a buffer in case of an explosion.

A draft report recently released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that current seal requirements are inadequate to prevent explosive breaches and that existing technology is available to make seals stronger.  MSHA has the ability to issue an emergency temporary rule while considering permanent regulations, which are not due until December.

"Miners should not have to wait months or years for MSHA to act.  We already know what is wrong with weak seals and how to fix them.  MSHA is either unable or unwilling to protect the lives of the men and women who go underground every day," said Miller.

Widows of coal miners and miners themselves testified before the Education and Labor Committee yesterday and said that despite a renewed focus on mine safety recently, working conditions are not improving and accidents that occurred in 2006 that claimed 47 lives can easily happen again.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
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