W.Va. Senate Passes New Mine Safety Rules

[Omaha Steve]

.
Jan 23, 4:41 PM (ET)

By LAWRENCE MESSINA


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - After 14 coal mining deaths in three weeks, the West Virginia Senate unanimously passed legislation Monday that would require mines to use electronic devices to track trapped miners and stockpile oxygen to keep them alive until help arrives.

The state House was expected to take up the measure later in the afternoon at the urging of Gov. Joe Manchin, who pressed lawmakers to pass the legislation by the end of the day.

"We can't afford to wait any longer," Manchin said after two miners were found dead over the weekend in a mine fire in Melville. Three weeks ago, 12 miners died after an explosion at the Sago Mine.

The Senate passed the bill without debate, 32-0, with two absences.



The sign in front of Badger Lumber on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006, asks for people to pray for the families of the two miners killed in a mine fire in Melville, W.Va. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060123/D8FAKR480.html



.

[tanyev]

1. If only people didn't have to die before companies or governments

spent money on safety.