Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969
Encyclopedia
The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, United States Public Law 91-173, generally referred to as the Coal Act, created the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA), later renamed the Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA), as well as a National Mine Map Repository
, within the Department of Interior.
MSHAs responsibilities paralleled those of Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) but addressed underground and surface mining
of coal
. The legislation was more comprehensive and stringent than previous federal laws governing the mining industry.
The Coal Act required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine, and dramatically increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines
. The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations, and established criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations. The safety standards for all coal mines were strengthened, and health standards were adopted.
The Coal Act also included specific procedures for the development of improved mandatory health and safety standards
, and provided compensation for miners who were totally and permanently disabled by the progressive respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of fine coal dust pneumoconiosis
or "black lung
".
In regard to the mine map repository, the Coal Act required that
"Whenever an operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine,
or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than ninety
days, he shall promptly notify the Secretary of such closure.
Within sixty days of the permanent closure or abandonment of the
mine, or, when the mine is temporarily closed, upon the expiration
of a period of ninety days from the date of closure, the operator
shall file with the Secretary a copy of the mine map revised and
supplemented to the date of the closure."
Initial enforcement of the law was slow due to understaffed enforcement agencies, a situation which was criticized when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster
occurred a year to the day after passage of the act, killing 38 men in a mine with a long history of violations.
It was updated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
, Public Law 95-164.
Mine Safety and Health Administration
The Mine Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor which administers the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents, to reduce...
(MSHA), as well as a National Mine Map Repository
National Mine Map Repository
The National Mine Map Repository is part of the United States Department of the Interior , Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement...
, within the Department of Interior.
MSHAs responsibilities paralleled those of Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
(OSHA) but addressed underground and surface mining
Surface mining
Surface mining , is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed...
of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
. The legislation was more comprehensive and stringent than previous federal laws governing the mining industry.
The Coal Act required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine, and dramatically increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
. The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations, and established criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations. The safety standards for all coal mines were strengthened, and health standards were adopted.
The Coal Act also included specific procedures for the development of improved mandatory health and safety standards
Safety standards
Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory...
, and provided compensation for miners who were totally and permanently disabled by the progressive respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of fine coal dust pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease and a restrictive lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust, often in mines.-Types:Depending upon the type of dust, the disease is given different names:...
or "black lung
Black lung
Black lung can mean several things:* Black lung disease, the common name for coalworker's pneumoconiosis* Black Lung, an electronic and industrial music project by Australian musician David Thrussell...
".
In regard to the mine map repository, the Coal Act required that
"Whenever an operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine,
or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than ninety
days, he shall promptly notify the Secretary of such closure.
Within sixty days of the permanent closure or abandonment of the
mine, or, when the mine is temporarily closed, upon the expiration
of a period of ninety days from the date of closure, the operator
shall file with the Secretary a copy of the mine map revised and
supplemented to the date of the closure."
Initial enforcement of the law was slow due to understaffed enforcement agencies, a situation which was criticized when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster
Hurricane Creek mine disaster
The Hurricane Creek mine disaster occurred five miles from Hyden, Kentucky on December 30, 1970, shortly after noon, and resulted in the deaths of 38 men. As was often pointed out in coverage of the disaster, it occurred a year to the day after the passage of the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of...
occurred a year to the day after passage of the act, killing 38 men in a mine with a long history of violations.
It was updated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 amended the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969. It can be found in the United States Code under Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, Chapter 22, Mine Safety and Health...
, Public Law 95-164.