U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said Monday that it
will have mine inspectors "beef up" the enforcement of ventilation
rules in response to Congressional testimony on a fatal blast at a
Massey Energy Co. (MEE) mine in April.
The federal mine-safety agency said inspectors have been
instructed to increase enforcement efforts. The agency is also
issuing new bulletins to mine operators, reminding them of rules on
mine ventilation, the operation of ventilation systems and the
maintenance of methane monitors.
"These standards are not voluntary, and every mine operator in
the country is on notice that (the agency) will not tolerate
violations of ventilation standards," Joseph Main, assistant
secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said in a
statement.
The agency said the actions stem from testimony in May before
the House Education and Labor Committee that raised questions about
whether Massey Energy properly followed ventilation rules at the
Upper Big Branch in West Virginia mine prior to the explosion that
killed 29 workers.
The MSHA and Massey have clashed since the explosion over the
ventilation system at the mine, with the company criticizing
existing rules and saying the agency required changes that reduced
air flow in the mine.
Shares of Massey Energy recently traded 28 cents higher to
$31.70.
-By Mark Peters, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2457;
mark.peters@dowjones.com