Post by Logan on Mar 2, 2016 4:57:50 GMT -6
WV House bill weakens mine safety, but is touted as a compromise
Coal operators could cut back on mine rescue teams, pay lower fines for not quickly reporting workplace accidents and exercise improved rights to challenge safety citations under a bill that’s making its way through the West Virginia Legislature with the blessing of the United Mine Workers union.
The legislation also would rework the way the state Department of Environmental Protection handles complaints about blasting at strip-mine operations, but — as written — has DEP officials concerned there is not language that more clearly retains their ability to collect roughly $1 million in annual fees that fund the DEP’s enforcement of blasting standards.
House members passed the bill early Tuesday evening on a 92-4 vote, with only Delegates Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha; Steven Shaffer, D-Preston; and Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson; voting against it.
Officials from the UMW and the West Virginia Coal Association agreed to the bill (HB 4726) as part of a deal in which the industry backed off another piece of legislation that the union and the state’s Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training believed would be more dangerous.
See more at: www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160301/wv-house-bill-weakens-mine-safety-but-is-touted-as-a-compromise
Coal operators could cut back on mine rescue teams, pay lower fines for not quickly reporting workplace accidents and exercise improved rights to challenge safety citations under a bill that’s making its way through the West Virginia Legislature with the blessing of the United Mine Workers union.
The legislation also would rework the way the state Department of Environmental Protection handles complaints about blasting at strip-mine operations, but — as written — has DEP officials concerned there is not language that more clearly retains their ability to collect roughly $1 million in annual fees that fund the DEP’s enforcement of blasting standards.
House members passed the bill early Tuesday evening on a 92-4 vote, with only Delegates Barbara Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha; Steven Shaffer, D-Preston; and Stephen Skinner, D-Jefferson; voting against it.
Officials from the UMW and the West Virginia Coal Association agreed to the bill (HB 4726) as part of a deal in which the industry backed off another piece of legislation that the union and the state’s Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training believed would be more dangerous.
See more at: www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160301/wv-house-bill-weakens-mine-safety-but-is-touted-as-a-compromise