Rockefeller wants mine safety hearing, investigation

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) on Monday requested formal Senate hearings and an investigation into the West Virginia mine blast that killed 29 last week.

The explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine is known as the worst mining disaster in decades. Congressional committee aides were sent to the site last week to start gathering information on the explosion at the mine, which was cited for myriad safety issues.    

Rockefeller, who is chairman of the Commerce Committee, wrote a letter to Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the top two members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to request the hearing.

"I know that all Americans join me in wanting answers to what caused this heartbreaking loss of life," he wrote. "I look forward to working with you and the Members of the HELP Committee to investigate the Upper Big Branch disaster, so that we can understand what caused this accident and what actions need to be taken to prevent future tragedies."

The explosion has raised the ire of labor groups and several lawmakers who criticized the mine's owners for failing to implement proper safety conditions at the facility.

Massey Energy, the company that owns the mine, has said that it is one of the safest in the mining industry.

"Our top priority is the safety of our miners and the well-being of their families,” Massey CEO Don Blankenship said last week. "We are working diligently on rescue efforts and continue to partner with all of the appropriate agencies."

Rockefeller released a series of statements last week offering his condolences to the victims' families and on the need to uncover the cause of the explosion.

The West Virginia congressional delegation will meet with White House officials on the incident Thursday, which is also being investigated by federal authorities. 

Full letter after the jump

April 12, 2010

Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi:

I am writing to formally request that the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) hold a series of hearings on coal mine safety, including the cause(s) of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster, and launch an oversight investigation into all mine safety citations issued to underground coal mines across the country.  Four years ago, following the tragedies of Sago and Aracoma, I was honored to work closely with the Members of this Committee to pass the bipartisan MINER Act.  This legislation took important steps in updating the 1977 MINE Act, and led to increased mine safety enforcement, and the development of new mine safety technology.

However, last week’s incident at the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, shows that coal mining remains an unacceptably dangerous profession.  Currently, West Virginians are mourning the 29 miners who lost their lives in this disaster.

I know that all Americans join me in wanting answers to what caused this heartbreaking loss of life.  I look forward to working with you and the Members of the HELP Committee to investigate the Upper Big Branch disaster, so that we can understand what caused this accident and what actions need to be taken to prevent future tragedies.

I deeply appreciate your leadership and our continued work together to improve mine safety through federal legislation and oversight.  We must make sure mine disasters become a thing of the past.

Sincerely,

John D. Rockefeller IV

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