02.06.18

Committee Democrats Hold Administration Accountable for Miners' Health and Safety

WASHINGTON – Today, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Assistant Secretary David G. Zatezalo testified before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Assistant Secretary Zatezalo’s testimony comes as rates of pulmonary massive fibrosis (PMF) -- the most advanced form of black lung disease -- are surging among Appalachian miners. Committee Democrats raised concerns that, under the Trump administration, MSHA is not taking the necessary steps to address this public health crisis.

“Just before this hearing, a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association documented the astonishing prevalence of a crippling lung condition among Southwest Virginia’s mining community. We must recognize that we are witnessing a serious health crisis and we must respond accordingly,” said Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. “In light of this new report, and less than a decade after the tragic and preventable mine explosion in West Virginia, it would be profoundly irresponsible to roll back mine safety regulations. Instead, we need to start implementing at least some of the lessons we learned from the Upper Big Branch explosion, and we need to establish real accountability for mining executives who put their workers at risk.”  

At the hearing, Democrats also expressed concern with the administration’s potential roll back of two essential enforcement and health and safety measures: the Pattern of Violations (POV) regulations designed to bend repeated violators into compliance and the respirable dust rule to prevent black lung disease.

In an effort to protect mine workers, Democrats urged the Committee to consider The Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act, (H.R 1903) legislation that would ensure irresponsible mine operators are held accountable for miners’ health and safety. This bill would strengthen criminal sanctions, provide MSHA with basic investigation tools, such as subpoena authority, and give MSHA the tools to collect fines and penalties from violators who are delinquent for longer than six months.

“Each case of advanced black lung disease is an entirely preventable tragedy, and represents mine operators’ unwillingness to adequately control mine dust exposures, and safety regulators failure to set, monitor and enforce standards necessary to protect miners,” said Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03). “The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) cannot keep looking the other way while the burden of this preventable disease grows.”

Committee Democrats also questioned how Assistant Secretary Zatezalo plans to address his potential conflicts of interest as head of the agency charged with protecting coal miners. As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Zatezalo oversees the settlement of litigation brought against MSHA by two trade associations seeking to nullify POV rules. Mr. Zatezalo recently served as a chairman and board member to these trade associations.

OPENING STATEMENT: Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-41), Subcommittee on Workforce Protections

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Press Contact

Stephanie Lalle, 202-226-0853 (Scott)
Josh Weisz, 202- 225-2305 (Takano)