Judiciary Committee Passes Mine Safety Bill

{Charleston, West Virginia}...The House Judiciary Committee Thursday passed legislation aimed at improving mine safety. The bill makes it a crime for anyone to warn a coal operator that a mine inspector is on site. It also requires that mining machines at the face be shut down more quickly when methane gas levels begin to build and that mines meet tougher standards for keeping coal dust under control. The legislation also requires coal companies to drug test certified miners, as well as other workers who are regularly present at the mine site. Most mining companies already drug test, but Governor Tomblin pushed the proposal requiring all companies to test. The bill also says that the family of a miner killed in an accident can chose anyone they want to represent them during investigations. The industry wanted a provision that would have prevented a union member from representing the family if the accident happened at a non-union mine, but that was left out of the House bill.