federal mine safety regulations News

Tennessee Mining Company Accused of Firing Employee Over Safety Complaints

Federal regulators have brought a complaint against a zinc mining company, claiming that an employee in Tennessee was illegally fired for making safety complaints about the mine. U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh filed the complaint earlier this month with …

U.S. Mine Safety Rule to Curb Black Lung Goes Into Effect

Underground coal mines will ramp up testing for the dust that causes breathing problems and leads to black lung disease under a new federal rule that took effect February 1. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is requiring coal …

Court Upholds Federal Mine Safety Rules Over Owners’ Opposition

New federal rules that labor officials say could save lives at dangerous mining sites have survived a court challenge from mining industry groups. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week dismissed the lawsuit brought by the National Mining …

Coal Companies Challenge Black Lung Mining Regulation

More than a dozen coal companies, including a unit of Patriot Coal Corp., challenged a new federal mine-safety regulation aimed at reducing black lung disease, with some arguing the objectives are unattainable. The companies today asked for a review of …

Mining Industry Vows to Fight Obama Administration Coal Dust Rule

The Obama administration ordered a 25 percent cut in the levels of coal dust in U.S. mines to reduce deadly black lung disease, a move that drew criticism from the mining industry and the threat of a lawsuit. The rule …

Congressmen Renew Push for Tougher Federal Mine Safety Laws

With five coal mining fatalities in West Virginia so far this year, Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall is renewing his push for tougher federal laws. He and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., are co-sponsoring a new version of legislation that’s languished …

U.S. Issues Mine Safety Rule on Patterns of Violations

Labor Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a final rule to strengthen safety in the nation’s most dangerous mines. Solis said that the rule, which revises the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s pattern of violations regulation, seeks to ensure …

New Federal Safety Rules for Mines Finalized

Federal regulators are issuing a final set of rules for underground coal mine examinations that aim to hold operators more accountable for finding and fixing dangerous conditions — and preventing the deaths of their workers. The Mine Safety and Health …