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For Immediate Release
February 11, 2008
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Senate Approves Comprehensive Mine Safety
Bill
 
Harrisburg - The state Senate today approved a sweeping
mine safety bill that will provide for the first rewrite of
Pennsylvania’s mining laws in nearly half a century,
according Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), who co-sponsored the
measure.
White, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and
Energy Committee, said the Senate worked closely with the
Department of Environmental Protection, coal mine operators
and mine union officials to develop the package.
"This legislation provides new, common sense measures to
prevent, prepare for and respond to mining accidents and
emergencies," White said. "It will help to improve
coordination of mine safety efforts, set higher standards
for mine operators and represents the culmination of a
strenuous effort to make this inherently dangerous job
safer."
Pennsylvania's mine safety statute was last updated in
1961.
Senate Bill 949, sponsored by Senator Richard Kasunic
(D-32), would create a new Board of Coal Mine Safety to keep
Pennsylvania's mine safety standards regularly updated. The
seven member board will be chaired by the DEP secretary,
with three members representing mine operators and three
representing mine workers.
The legislation also provides for greater legal
responsibility for operators to ensure mine safety, and
enables the state to establish a central database of mine
maps, White said. It also addresses responses to accidents,
requiring mine operators to notify DEP within 15 minutes of
an accident, and updates ventilation and roof support
requirements.
"The Board of Coal Mine Safety will regularly consider
new technology and new approaches that improve safety, so
that Pennsylvania doesn’t go another 50 years before
updating its mining regulations," said White. "Passage of
this measure was the result of bipartisan cooperation and
hard work. I look forward to seeing it enacted so that the
proud tradition of Pennsylvania mining is as safe as it
possibly can be."
Pennsylvania is now the fourth largest coal producer in
the United States, following Wyoming, West Virginia and
Kentucky. Since 1870 there have been approximately 51,000
mining-related fatalities in the Commonwealth.
CONTACT:
PAT HENDERSON (717) 787-9684
Overview of SB 949 (PDF)
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