New federal rules that labor officials say could save lives at
dangerous mining sites have survived a court challenge from mining industry
groups.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday dismissed the
lawsuit brought by the National Mining Association and other groups.
The new rules, approved in January, allow federal labor
officials to designate a mine as a repeat violator of safety rules without a
prior warning. It also allows regulators to impose the pattern of violations
designation before mine operators are finished appealing the violations, which
could hold up enforcement for months or years.
The appeals court's opinion said it did not have jurisdiction to
rule in the case.
The National Mining Association had argued that the new rules
can be costly for operators.
