Mine safety legislation faces uncertain future in Republican-controlled House

Congress fell short of passing mine safety legislation during the last session largely because of Republican opposition, and the legislation's fate appears unlikely to change under the new Congress. Now that Republicans control the House, congressional critics and industry leaders are breathing a sigh of relief, Environment & Energy News reports. The bill would among other things include tougher protection for whistle blowers and increase enforcement of mines with a pattern of violations.

"I would say right now, [it] is a very distant prospect that there would be major legislation aimed at the mining industry this year," Luke Popovich, vice president for communications at the National Mining Association, told E&E. Popovich noted  that opposition to the legislation is not confined to Republicans. Several Democrats expressed reservations last year as well. "In the House ... 27 Democrats voted against the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act during a suspension vote in December," E&E writes.

Advocates of the legislation say it is too early to determine what a Republican-controlled House will do with the bill. No decision is likely until the results of the investigation into the Upper Big Branch disaster that killed 29 West Virginia miners in April are released. "At this point, with them being in control [of the House], we are going to have to wait and see what that report says before any steps are taken," Phil Smith, a spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America, told E&E. Without legislation, the Mine Safety & Health Administration is likely to step up independent enforcement. "I think probably over the next three to four months, we are going to see a pretty substantial upgrade in MSHA's determination to use the tools available," Smith said. (Read more, subscription required)