Official balks at calls for public hearing

SOMERSET, Pa. -- The miners' union and the former head of a federal mine safety agency say public hearings are needed to determine what caused a flood that trapped nine coal miners underground for more than three days.

But the current head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration said a public hearing, which would give investigators power to subpoena witnesses and documents, wouldn't reveal any more information than the routine investigation already under way into the accident at the Quecreek mine.

In calling for hearings, Joe Main, national health and safety administrator for the United Mine Workers of America, said the number of U.S. coal miners killed on the job has risen each of the past three years.

"This year started out worse than last year and we came as close as you can come to another disaster at Quecreek," Main told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "It has to raise questions about what's going on in coal mine safety in this country."

Federal statistics show 29 U.S. coal miners were killed in 1998, 34 in 1999, 38 in 2000, 42 in 2001 and 17 so far this year.

Officials of Black Wolf Mining Co. say their workers hit a flooded, abandoned mine because 50-year-old maps of the adjoining mine were inaccurate.

The company says maps of its own mine were accurate, noting rescuers used those maps to pinpoint the miners' location.

David Lauriski, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said hearings won't yield any more answers than the routine Mine Safety and Health Administration probe already under way.

In addition to the federal probe, a routine state investigation has begun and Gov. Mark Schweiker has announced formation of an independent panel to study the accident.

J. Davitt McAteer, who held Lauriski's post for seven years, said federal officials should invoke a clause of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 that provides for public hearings.

Lauriski disagreed.

"I think everybody forgets our mission is to reduce injury and illness, not to write citations," Lauriski said.

Lauriski said federal officials have added educational, technical and training programs to help coal companies comply with the health and safety laws.

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On the Net:

United Mine Workers: http://www.umwa.org

Mine Safety and Health Administration: http://www.msha.gov