
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 1, 1994                   TAG: 9402010111
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

BILL ON MINE SAFETY CLEARS COMMITTEE

A Senate committee on Monday endorsed an overhaul of the state's mine safety law, trying to fix weaknesses exposed in the wake of the December 1992 explosion that killed eight miners in Wise County.

The Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the 96-page mine safety bill after hearing that it has the support of miners and mine operators.

"Not everybody got exactly what they wanted in the bill, but I think there were compromises that all the parties agreed to," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield. He was on a task force of legislators, miners and mine operators that drafted the bill.

"We've got a law that will protect the workers and we can live with," said Donnie Lowe, president of United Mine Workers District 28.

The bill would require applicants for mine licenses to submit safety plans. Mines with good safety records would be subject to fewer inspections, while those with poor histories could be reviewed without warning. That bill also would require certification of new mine employees and guarantee confidentiality for miners who complain of safety violations.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB