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Monday, June 07, 2010

Massey cites W.Va. editorial to lobby for delay in mine safety reform

The Charleston Daily Mail editorial Wednesday called for Congress to delay any mine safety reforms until the investigation into the April explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine is complete. Now representatives from Public Strategies, a public relations and lobbying firm hired by Massey, has been circulating the editorial on Capitol Hill, Ken Ward Jr. of The Charleston Gazette reports on his blog Coal Tattoo. The editorial took issue with Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller's assertion that there was work Congress could do to improve mine safety now.

"We agree with the overall premise of the editorial that there should be no rush to judgment by state or federal lawmakers on which legislative initiatives may be adopted until all of the facts are ascertained as to what caused the UBB accident," Massey spokesman Jeff Gillenwater told Ward.
Rockefeller sent a letter to President Obama in which he listed several recommendations for mine safety reform suggested by the families of victims of the UBB disaster. Among his recommendations was "requiring each mine to have a certified mine safety team comprised of miners, requiring inspectors to choose miners to accompany them on safety inspections, improving rock dusting standards, requiring inspectors to conduct inspections during evening and weekend shifts, rather than just during day shifts and piercing the corporate veil to hold upper management, Directors, and CEOs accountable for the safety of miners." (Read more)

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