Mine Safety Takes Center Stage
From: MetroNews (WV)
Mine safety is on the agenda for the legislature this week.
The Judiciary Committees will hold informational meetings to receive testimony on proposed legislation. The Senate will hold their meeting on Monday, the House on Tuesday. Both are set for 2pm.
The goal is to inform lawmakers about the findings into the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that claimed 29 lives on April 5, 2010 and to discuss proposed coal mine safety legislation.
Major changes were made to the state’s mine safety laws in 2006 after the disasters at Sago and Aracoma. But lawmaker say what they learned from the investigation into UBB will help them create new safety procedures that can help save lives.
Set to speak at the events include: Eugene White the Deputy Director of the state Mine Safety Office, Chris Hamilton with the West Virginia Coal Assoc., Dennis O’Dell with the UMWA and J. Davitt McAteer who headed up the Governor’s Independent Investigation into UBB.
The meetings are open to the public and will be held in the House Chamber. You can also listen via the internet at www.legis.state.us/life.cfm.
