Bush, West Virgina and the Coal Mines

[erpowers]

How do people at DU think the mine disasters will affect the term of the Democratic governor in West Virgina. Will the fact that Bush is directly responsible for the second disaster, in that he gave the order to have the belts reinstated in the mines, have any effect on the people of West Virgina?

[bluestateguy]

1. I think the voters of West Virginia have answered that

http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50StateGovernor060119Approval.htm

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. conveyer belts? Why were they banned in the first place?

and what exactly did Bush do to put them back?

[erpowers]

3. Could Cause Fires

Reports showed that the conveyer belts could cause fires like the one that was caused in the latest mining accident. It was reported on one of the nightly news broadcasts that something could happen with the belts in which they could hit something or cause something to explode and then start a fire. The easiest way to explain it is that what happened in the latest mine disaster is what the report said could happen if the belts were left in the mines. Bush signed a law or some other order that had the belts
replaced in the mines.

This is a piece that was taken from a Netscape article. I did not post the link because it was really long. I will try to find more information:
"Conveyor belt fires can occur when belt rollers get stuck or out of alignment and rub against the structure supporting them, said John Langton, MSHA's deputy administrator for coal mine safety and health. Another possible cause is the accumulation of coal dust".

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. thanks. that makes perfect sense.

but an unmaintained conveyer is cheap, while coal cars are labor intensive.