Committee on Education and Labor : U.S. House of Representatives

Press Releases

Chairman Miller Says IG Report on Crandall Canyon Shows Urgent Need for Stronger Retreat Mining Review Process
Report Also Raises Troubling Questions about MSHA Decision to Allow Family Members & CNN Camera Crew into Mine despite Dangers

Monday, March 31, 2008

 

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on an audit report released today by the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Labor on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s approval of retreat mining plans at the Crandall Canyon mine, where six miners and three rescuers died last August. The Inspector General concluded that MSHA “was negligent in carrying out its responsibilities to protect the safety of miners.”

“The Inspector General’s report highlights the fact that miners performing retreat mining in this country remain at serious risk because of MSHA’s deeply flawed process for reviewing and approving retreat mining plans. In January, the House of Representatives passed legislation to require that MSHA strengthen its procedures for reviewing and approving retreat mining plans. The legislation also requires MSHA to observe retreat mining operations once they are in place to ensure they are being performed in accordance with the plans and that miners are properly trained. The Inspector General’s report shows why this legislation is so urgently needed, and I strongly urge the Senate to pass it.

“The report also raises very troubling questions about the decision by MSHA’s leadership to allow individuals not involved in the rescue into the mine while rescue efforts were ongoing. Members of the news media – who apparently had ‘fast and not so good’ safety training – and family members of trapped miners were allowed into the mine despite objections from other MSHA officials. Assistant Secretary Stickler should better explain that decision, which may have put people’s lives at risk unnecessarily.”

►For more information on the legislation approved by the House in January, the S-MINER Act, click here: http://edlabor.house.gov/micro/minesafety.shtml.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
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