On the Emergency Rule on Mine Seals
James R. Carroll, Courier-Journal - May 19, 2007
Partly in response to last year's Darby mine accident in Harlan County, federal regulators yesterday issued strengthened rules governing the walls that seal off abandoned areas of underground mines where explosive and toxic gases can build up.The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said it will require such walls to withstand greater pressure from an explosion under certain circumstances and will prohibit welding, cutting and soldering with a flame or arc within 150 feet of them.
From the Education and Labor Committee:
Chairman Miller Statement on Emergency Rule on Mine SealsWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement today on the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration's issuance of an emergency temporary standard to strengthen mine seals.
"MSHA has finally responded to repeated requests for it to act, and we are going to be very sure that this time the intent of the Congress will be fully implemented. We will review the emergency temporary standard to make sure it meets the criterion of providing an explosion-proof seal for underground mines as required by the 1969 Coal Act and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health testing.
"As the tragedies of last year proved, the old standard was woefully inadequate to protect miners, and this emergency standard is long overdue. Congress established MSHA to protect the health and safety of miners, and the agency should move more quickly to address serious threats facing miners."
Mine seals block off unused portions of an underground mine and are supposed to be explosion proof. The mine seals at both the Sago and Darby mine explosions last year were easily breached.