HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell recognized the contributions and sacrifices the state's coal miners have made to Pennsylvania during a ceremony today officially marking Dec. 19, 2007, as Coal Miner's Day.

The Governor used the opportunity to announce an agreement between the administration, the legislature, labor unions and mining companies on key issues that will be incorporated into legislation intended to strengthen Pennsylvania's 130-year-old deep mine safety law.

"It's important that we keep in context just what our coal miners do," said Governor Rendell, noting the more than 51,000 mining fatalities that have occurred in Pennsylvania since 1870. "The number of mining deaths emphasizes the importance of coal mining safety.

"When the legislature gets back in January, new legislation strengthening Pennsylvania's mine safety law, which has not been updated since 1961, will be introduced. It is my hope that this legislation will be enacted swiftly. It is good and groundbreaking legislation because it establishes so many important things and puts the responsibility for mine safety where it belongs."

Among other things, the Governor said, the bill would make the mine owner or operator primarily responsible for safety at the mine, and would create a seven-member Mine Safety Board with the authority to write regulations, making it easier to implement 21st century safety technologies rather than be hampered by 19th century legislation.

The proposed bill would also enact more stringent requirements for verifying underground mine maps and for establishing barriers between new mines and abandoned mines. This provision would put into law a rule Governor Rendell instituted in the wake of the 2002 Quecreek accident.

"It's important for our miners and their families to know that even while this legislation has been debated, the administration has taken some important steps to ensure the safety of our miners," said Governor Rendell.

The Governor highlighted the following improvements made to Pennsylvania's mining operations since 2003:

-- Requiring safety officials to review every mine permit application and say "No" if they think unsafe conditions may exist.

-- Implementing stringent new requirements to validate and verify underground mine maps before new mining can take place.

-- Increasing the distance between planned mining and abandoned mines from 200 to 500 feet to provide an extra measure of security so miners don't accidentally breech an abandoned mine pool, as happened at Quecreek.

-- Replacing outdated equipment that was more than 30 years old with 48 new, self-contained breathing units at a cost of $415,000 for use by underground mine rescue teams. The units are housed at three mine rescue stations Cambria, Fayette and Schuylkill counties.

-- Developing and implementing training for managing mine inundation, as well as continuing education programs for mining professionals, mine managers and mine inspectors.

Today's commemoration marked the 100th anniversary of Pennsylvania's deadliest mine accident. A dust and gas explosion in the Darr Mine in Westmoreland County on Dec. 19, 1907, killed 239 miners.

December 1907 is the deadliest month in United States mining history; 3,242 miners were killed in accidents that month, including 1,514 in Pennsylvania. Since 1870, the number of coal miners who have died in Pennsylvania mines totals 51,509.

For more information on deep mine safety, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Mine safety.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is a copy of Governor Rendell's proclamation marking Dec. 19, 2007 as Coal Miners Day in Pennsylvania.

GREETINGS:

It is my distinct honor to join with everyone in attendance today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Darr Coal Mine Disaster and to recognize Coal Miners Day.

Coal has played an important role in both our commonwealth's history and economy. Pennsylvania is a leading coal-producing state, and the only state in the nation to mine anthracite coal. For decades, coal was the fuel of choice for transportation and other steam-powered applications as well as an essential part of our commonwealth's steel production.

The Darr Mine was the site of Pennsylvania's worst coal mining disaster. On December 19, 2007 --- the same year that claimed more than 3,242 miners across the United States, including 1,514 from Pennsylvania --- a dust and gas explosion took the lives of 239 miners at the Darr Mine in Van Meter, Westmoreland County, leaving behind countless widows and children.

As Governor and on behalf of all Pennsylvanians, I am pleased to join with you in recognizing December 19, 2007, as Coal Miners Day on the 100th anniversary of the Darr Mine accident. Today we remember these hard working, brave souls who lost their lives, but whose death was the impetus to sweeping changes in mine safety, both in the application of technology and in federal and state regulations.

EDWARD G. RENDELL
Governor
December 19, 2007

CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116

Neil Weaver (DEP)
717-787-1323

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Chuck Ardo of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,
+1-717-783-1116; or Neil Weaver of the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, +1-717-787-1323

Web Site:

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/
http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

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Profile: labor-news