EKB News

Coal mines would get increased scrutiny from state inspectors under legislation signed into law by Governor Fletcher today. The new law will require inspectors from the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing to double their visits to underground coal mines from three to a minimum of six per year. Two of the annual inspections must focus on electrical work inside mines. The law also requires at least one member of every underground crew to have a detector to monitor for the explosive gas methane. Miners working alone also would have a detector.