The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee scheduled an informational meeting on Wednesday on legislation that would update the state’s deep mine safety law.

Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) was passed by the Senate in February and is now in the House Committee for action. The bill makes hundreds of changes in the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act, some designed to prevent accidents like the one that occurred in the Quecreek Mine in 2002.

The Committee is scheduled to hear an overview of the legislation from Scott Roberts, Deputy Secretary for Mineral Resources Management, and Joe Sbaffoni, Director of the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety, both from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Minority Chair.

3/28/2008