CHARLESTON —
Federal mine inspectors were told Monday to step up their enforcement of coal mine ventilation regulations to ensure companies are complying with standards designed to protect underground miners.
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration also issued notices reminding the nation’s mining industry to follow laws regarding underground mine ventilation and not to tamper with methane monitoring equipment.
MSHA director Joe Main said the notices were prompted by testimony presented in May during a congressional hearing on the Upper Big Branch mine explosion. The April 5 explosion killed 29 workers.
Testimony from family members during the House Education and Labor Committee hearing raised questions about how the Massey Energy mine was ventilated.
“These standards are not voluntary, and every mine operator in the country is on notice that MSHA will not tolerate violations of ventilation standards,” Main said in an agency release.
“Mine inspectors are being instructed to beef up enforcement of ventilation standards.”
State and federal investigators are looking to see if ventilation played a role in the April explosion. They are also looking at the mine’s methane monitors to see if they had been tampered with. Preliminary reviews show the monitors had not been electronically altered.
Massey contends that MSHA forced it to change its ventilation plan at the Upper Big Branch mine. The company has said the change reduced the amount of air flowing through critical areas of the mine.
West Virginia
Feds step up ventilation enforcement
To ensure coal mine companies comply with safety standards
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Lawmaker hopes to revive insurance proposal
One of the physicians serving in the West Virginia Legislature hopes to revive a measure extending pregnancy and birth control coverage to the dependents of insurance policyholders.
Senate Health and Human Resources Chair Ron Stollings, D-Boone, said Friday that he’s reaching out to members of the Banking and Insurance Committee after they rejected the bill Thursday. -
Three aging state power plants to close
FirstEnergy Corp. announced Wednesday it will shut down three aging coal-fired power plants in West Virginia later this year.
The company’s Monongahela Power subsidiary will retire the Albright, Willow Island and Rivesville power stations by Sept. 1, affecting a total of 105 workers. -
Bills would ban children from tanning, tattoos
West Virginia lawmakers are looking to protect children from unhealthy decisions and to give parents more say in their children’s body art choices.
Bills moving through the Legislature would set the minimum age minors can receive their first tattoo and would ban indoor tanning for all children. -
Hackers post officers’ personal information
Hackers affiliated with the group Anonymous obtained personal information for more than 150 police officers from an old website of the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association and posted the data online.
The FBI is investigating, said William Roper, the association’s president and the police chief of Ranson said. -
Bill would clarify secretary of state’s power
A West Virginia legislator wants state law to say clearly that the secretary of state has the authority to verify whether candidates running for election are eligible to hold office.
Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow the secretary to refuse to certify candidates and keep them off the ballot if they don’t meet all the legal and constitutional requirements to serve. -
USDA kills 8 coyotes at University Town Centre
U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have killed eight coyotes in a hilltop shopping center complex near Morgantown. They aren’t sure how many remain nearby.
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Texting bill evolves, heads to House
West Virginia drivers could get a ticket for texting or talking on their cellphone while driving under a bill the Senate unanimously approved Monday.
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W.Va. texting bill evolves, heads to House
The Senate has approved a bill that would allow police to ticket drivers for texting or talking on their cellphones while on the road.
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Report: Residents lacking savings
A nonprofit group says nearly one in five West Virginia residents have almost no savings or other assets to weather a financial crisis.
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Lawmakers navigate lobby ban, social media
In this era of Twitter and smartphones, citizens and lobbyists alike have all sorts of ways to reach out to lawmakers at a moment’s notice. But the West Virginia Legislature has rules meant to insulate its members from last-minute pressures while they’re debating and voting on bills.
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Lawmaker hopes to revive insurance proposal
