After the 2006 Sago Mine disaster killed 12 miners,West Virginia public officials vowed to crack down on unsafe practices in the industry.
But in April 2010, we were reminded how much work needs to be done to improve mine safety. It was then that 29 miners died in another Mountain State disaster, at the Upper Big Branch Mine.
During his State of the State speech, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin urged legislators to approve a new package of mine safety rules.
There is nothing really controversial about the governor's proposals. Among them are:
Tomblin's proposals were introduced this week in the Legislature.
Again, the governor's ideas are not for massive changes in how coal is mined. Some critics say more needs to be done to keep mines safe.
But Tomblin's package addresses specific, serious concerns. It appears to be the type of legislation that should be introduced frequently in West Virginia, as more is known about mining technology and risks.
Too often, mine safety rules are changed only in reaction to tragedies. This time is different. It is an attempt to anticipate rather than respond to concerns about safety in the mines.
Legislators should approve the governor's proposals. As we and others have noted many times, mining is inherently dangerous. The more than can be done to lessen the risks, the better. Tomblin's bill addresses real concerns and, if enacted, would provide a new margin of safety in Mountain State mines.