WVCA, , Massey employees, UMW safety officers and rank-and-file miners were among about two-dozen people who attended the last of four MSHA public hearings on an emergency rule governing “rock-dusting” of underground tunnels. In September, MSHA issued a rule to require coal companies to apply more crushed stone to the walls, floors and other surfaces underground to control potential dust ignitions. That rule has already taken effect on an emergency basis and now MSHA is taking public input on a final version.
WVCA said that MSHA should be more focused on allowing mine operators to use scrubbers mounted to mining machines to control dust and allowing extended cuts of coal that involve less moving of machines underground. “That’s a major concern we have here in West Virginia,” said Chris Hamilton. “That’s a much greater concern here throughout West Virginia and Appalachia than putting an additional 5 or 10 or 15 percent more rock dust.”
MSHA also announced a second phase of its “Rules to Live By” enforcement initiative to target the types of violations agency officials believe can lead to explosions and fires.