The General Assembly this week gave final approval to Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) that provides the first comprehensive update to the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act in more than 45 years.

The changes are in part in response to the recommendations made in 2002 after the Quecreek Mine Rescue and the later Sago Mine accident in West Virigina.

Last year the General Assembly passed the Mine Families First Act to put into law the policies Gov. Schweiker adopted to keep mine families involved in accidents informed of the progress of rescue operations.

The measure would create a "Coal Mine Safety Board" to review and recommend new mine safety technologies, mandate emergency shelters in bituminous coal mines, require greater safety precautions, establish a more reliable mine mapping system, and institute tough new penalties against mining companies that fail to comply with the law.

"Every day over 5,000 Pennsylvania miners go into the earth to mine coal," Sen. Kasunic said. "This bill will help the industry keep pace with the latest technology and safety practices.”

"It has been more than 45 years since those who toil within the earth's recesses have had improvements made to the law which governs their daily safety," Rep. DeWeese (D-Greene) said. "I have been working to make sure the hard-working miners of the Commonwealth have the best mine safety law in the nation, and I am delighted to say today's House passage gets us to that goal.

"Today's vote comes following months of discussions among the House and Senate, Governor Ed Rendell, the United Mine Workers of America and the Pennsylvania Coal Association," Rep. DeWeese said. "It was humbling working toward the common goal of securing safer conditions for the people who risk their lives underground so that we all may have light above it."

"This overdue legislation brings Pennsylvania mine safety into the 21st century with a host of new measures to prevent, prepare for and respond to mining accidents and emergencies," said Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. "Pennsylvania can be proud of its first-rate mine safety program. This legislation will once again serve as a national standard, and I urge the House to approve this bill quickly."

Senator White commended Gov. Rendell and DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty, as well Rep. Bill DeWeese, and Senators Musto (D-Luzerne) and Kasunic for their work on the bill. The senator expressed special appreciation to George Ellis of the Pennsylvania Coal Association, whose members showed continued willingness to find a reasonable compromise on the legislation.

“Today’s vote is progress on the work we began, following the Quecreek Mine accident, to modernize our mine safety laws, create a framework to update mine safety regulations in the future, and hold mine operators responsible for the safety of their mines,” Gov. Rendell said. “I thank all who participated in the process, including the mining companies, the miners, and the legislature for working through these serious and complicated issues to forge this groundbreaking agreement. I also want to recognize Governor Mark Schweiker for his brilliant leadership during and after the Quecreek crisis.”

NewsClips: Mine Safety Bill Set to Become Law

Updated Mine Safety Bill Sails Through House

Video Blog: Quecreek Mine Rescue Fifth Anniversary Renews Call for Mine Safety Bill

Link: Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation

7/4/2008