Obama orders crackdown on mines with repeat violations

[NJmaverick]

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama directed federal mine health and safety officials to crack down on mines with a pattern of serious safety violations Thursday.

The announcement of the sweeping review of mine safety comes on the heels of last week's explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W. Va. The blast, which killed 29 miners, is the deadliest U.S. mining accident in four decades.

Obama met with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Mine Safety and Health Administrator Joe Main Thursday to discuss their initial assessment of the cause and what actions could prevent further mining tragedies. Obama characterized the findings as troubling and noted that the West Virginia mine explosion was triggered by a failure of the Upper Big Branch Mine owner Massey Energy to maintain safe conditions and a "failure of laws so riddled with loopholes" that dangerous conditions weren't properly flagged and corrected.

"This isn't just about a single mine. It's about all of our mines. The safety record at the Massey Upper Big Branch mine was troubling. And it's clear that while there are many responsible companies, far too many mines aren't doing enough to protect their workers' safety," Obama said after Thursday's meeting.



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/04/15/92242/obama-calls-for-sweeping-mine.html#ixzz0lGZy5B7E

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/0

[KittyWampus]

1. It's too bad that the Left hasn't been on the ball regarding Mine Safety. It's an Issue

where Liberals could make a huge difference AND win people over from the Dark Side.

Standing up against the rushing tide of Coal Mining is futile. Fighting for safety and innovation in extraction would go furthest.

[lunatica]

2. And thus David is forced to take on Goliath

This is going to be a huge battle and it's going to set precedent for the future regulation of Big Business.

[Brickbat]

3. A little bit of leadership on EFCA wouldn't hurt, either.

I'm just sayin'.

[hayu_lol]

4. We've had these kind of statements out of government...

every time we've had a mine disaster for the past 100 years at least. They continue to happen because the people causing the problem never go to prison. A few piddly fines and a lot of legal stalling is the perpetual answer.

Serious crackdown...not in this life.

[Brickbat]

5. Yup. I've seen a couple threads here crowing about a crackdown.

They're going to clear up the violations backlog, and close loopholes. Which, you know, great. But I'll believe "crackdown" when I see it.

[NJmaverick]

9. You can speculate that it won't happen

but it's more likely that it will.

[NJmaverick]

7. The White House has the Justice Department involved

there is a good chance someone is going to jail

[salguine]

6. I'll hurrah when it actually happens. Not before. These mines have laughed at regulators in

the past. What will another "crackdown" produce except more comedy in the boardroom? Let's see some people start going to prison. If that happens, I'll be pleased. But I'm not holding my breath.

[NJmaverick]

8. The White House has the Justice Department involved

So you may very well get your wish

[salguine]

10. The same Justice Department that went after Bush and Cheney and Rumsf—oh, wait.

[NJmaverick]

11. What's your point?

[salguine]

12. What do you think my point is?

[amborin]

13. locking the barn door too late; Obama was warmed about these violations for months

and allowed the loopholes to remain....at this particular mine, too

[NJmaverick]

14. You know this how?

[lonestarnot]

15. Yes, how do you know that?

Sounds like bushitler and 9/11 only less dead people. Link please.