Workforce Chairman Wants Answers From MSHA

• {Washington, D.C.}...Congressman Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan, the Chairman of the U.S. House Workforce Protection Subcommittee, says he has many questions about the results of the internal review the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration released this week about actions prior to the April 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine explosion that killed 29 miners. Walberg says some inspections were done, violations were found and they backed away from citing and levying the fines, and he wants to know why. Congressman Walberg says the coal industry is important to the U.S. economy, and the enforcement process needs to work so coal miners are protected while doing their jobs. Congressman Walberg met with Assistant Labor Secretary for Mine, Safety and Health Joe Main and others Thursday afternoon on Capitol Hill to talk about the internal review. Walberg says he plans to have a hearing in front of the full U.S. House Workforce Protection Subcommittee on the internal review at some point in the near future.