Posts Tagged ‘Mine Safety and Health Administration’
Miners, advocates voice their concerns about MSHA’s proposed silica rule
Coal miners and black lung advocates filled several back rows of the auditorium at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy just outside of Beckley, West Virginia, on the morning of Aug. 10th to provide comments on the agency’s draft rule to protect miners from respirable silica dust.
Read MoreUpcoming public hearings should highlight weaknesses of new silica rule proposal
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is planning three hybrid hearings on its proposed rule to strengthen silica exposure standards for coal miners. These hearings will give miners and their advocates an opportunity to point out some of the weaknesses of the proposal.
Read MoreAdvocates, coal miners applaud progress towards new silica dust rule
Today, the Biden Administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a long-delayed draft rule to protect coal miners from exposure to respirable silica — the principal cause of the resurgence of deadly black lung disease.
Read More35 Organizations endorse congressional appropriations roadmap to spur coal community economic development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2023 Contact: Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com READ THE LETTERS HERE: Senate Letter and House Letter COAL COUNTRY – Local, regional and national leaders representing 35 organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders today urging them to back key investments in community and economic development as well as the reduction of…
Read MoreRegulators Poised to Update Miners’ Protections from Silica Dust
Expected new silica dust regulations in mines could combat the rise of black lung disease. However, the effects of an ongoing federal silica enforcement initiative remain unclear.
Read MoreAppalachian Voices urges Congress to pass Biden’s proposed investments in Appalachian coalfields
Today, President Joe Biden released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget to fund government programs through September 2024. The budget proposal includes crucial investments in programs to boost economic growth in the coalfields, ensure coal mine reclamation and protect miners from black lung disease.
Read MoreTighter silica rules needed to protect miners from black lung disease
Coal miners are legally allowed to be exposed to twice as much dangerous silica dust as any other worker. That needs to change.
Read MoreCoal Company Accused of Intimidating Whistleblowers
The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Murray Energy Corp. for violations after it sought to retaliate against miners who made complaints anonymously.
Read MoreLabor Dept. Audits MSHA
Following a scathing report by two media organizations into unpaid mine safety fines, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced plans to audit the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s handling of delinquent penalties. The 2014 report by NPR and Mine Safety and Health News motivated members of Congress and mine safety experts to urge the…
Read MoreCoal Generated Electricity Drops To All-Time Low in First Quarter
By Jessica Kennedy Data released in early May show that coal’s current share of U.S. electricity generation is at an all-time low. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook report, coal made up only 36 percent of the country’s electricity in the first quarter of 2012, a drop of more than eight…
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