State orders review of anthracite coal mines
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State officials will step up inspections of 14 anthracite coal mines in Eastern Pennsylvania in light of problems found during the investigation into a death at one of the mines in October.
"Our mine inspectors found several violations of Pennsylvania's anthracite underground mine safety law, and I have directed the Bureau of Mine Safety to ensure that similar violations are not occurring at other mines," said Kathleen McGinty, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Dale Reightler, 43, died in an Oct. 23 methane explosion while crews were blasting at the R&D Coal Co.'s Buck Mountain Slope Mine in Tremont, Schuylkill County. Investigators last month ordered the mine closed after they found troubling similarities to a serious injury accident at the same mine two years earlier.
The mine safety inspectors will pay particular attention to methane detection and ventilation procedures, and the proper storage and use of explosives, according to the DEP.
First Published February 11, 2007 12:00 am
