HARRISBURG – Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty today announced that DEP’s Bureau of Mine Safety has begun conducting enhanced inspections of all 14 underground anthracite coal mines in Pennsylvania to help mine operators identify and correct safety problems discovered during the investigation that followed the Oct. 23, 2006, fatal accident at the R&D Coal Company’s Buck Mountain Slope Mine in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County.
A methane explosion at the mine fatally injured miner Dale Reightler, 43, of Donaldson, Frailey Township, and was the only underground mine fatality in Pennsylvania in 2006.
“During the investigation, our mine inspectors found several violations of Pennsylvania’s anthracite underground mine safety law, and I have directed the Bureau of Mine Safety to ensure that similar violations are not occurring at other mines,” McGinty said. “Pennsylvania coal is an important piece of our energy future, but the safety of the miners must come first. We are going to review safety plans and pre-shift examination procedures with miners, mine officials and laborers at each mine to make sure that established underground mine safety procedures are being followed.”
DEP’s underground mine safety inspectors will accompany mine foremen and other mine officials on pre-shift examinations at each mine to ensure that safety checks are being conducted properly. Inspectors will pay particular attention to methane-detection and ventilation procedures, and the proper storage and use of explosives.
Governor Rendell ordered a similar enhanced inspection program at all underground mines in the state in February 2006 following a series of tragic mine accidents in West Virginia. Although no significant violations were discovered at that time, mine inspectors did work with operators to correct several ventilation-related concerns.
Following the October fatal accident at the Buck Mountain Slope Mine, DEP on temporarily suspended the certifications on Dec. 5, 2006, of the
three mine officials who were on duty at the time of the accident, meaning that they can not serve in an official capacity in any mine in Pennsylvania.
On Jan. 26, the Bureau of Mine Safety released its final reports on investigations into the October accident and a previous explosion in the mine in 2004. Based on information uncovered during those investigations, the department revoked the mining permit for the Buck Mountain Slope Mine and ordered the company to seal the mine and begin immediate reclamation of the site.
DEP’s Bureau of Mine Safety regulates mining activities at 60 underground coal mines in Pennsylvania. Underground coal mines in Pennsylvania produced more than 55 million tons of coal in 2005.