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Coal Country Republicans Set to Cut Mine Safety Inspections

canada goose outlet ontario Republican legislators in Kentucky and West Virginia seem to have a newfound respect for the federal government and its regulatory cheap Canada Goose abilities. In fact, they trust Washington so much that they’re willing to relinquish much of their own oversight of coal mine safety to the feds. canada goose outlet ontario

canada goose outlet uk A bill approved by Kentucky canada goose clearance sale lawmakers Tuesday would cut back the number of state inspections of coal mines per year. Canada Goose Coats On Sale It would allow the state’s Department of Natural Resources to substitute some of those safety inspections with what’s known as safety analyses. Conveniently for coal operators, Canada Goose Online the analyses do not pose the threat of citations and fines. canada goose outlet uk

canada goose factory outlet toronto location “It’s really infuriating. It really decimates the mine safety agency,” said Tony Oppegard, a mine safety expert and Kentucky based lawyer who represents miners. canada goose factory outlet toronto location

canada goose outlet parka Noting that the Kentucky statehouse is under canada goose full GOP uk canada goose outlet control for the first time in decades, Oppegard added, “I’m kind of surprised they didn’t just eliminate all inspections.” canada goose outlet parka

canada goose parka outlet Under a proposal introduced there over the weekend, the state’s inspections of coal mines would henceforth be considered “compliance visits.” canada goose store As the Charleston Gazette Mail’s Ken Ward Jr. explains, a state official on such canadian goose jacket a visit could not issue any citations unless there was an Black Canada Goose Jacket immediate danger. The proposal “essentially canada goose uk outlet eliminates any uk canada goose meaningful role for the state” in enforcing mine safety laws, Ward canada goose clearance writes. canada goose parka outlet

canada goose outlet trillium parka black It’s really infuriating. It really decimates the mine safety agency. canada goose outlet trillium parka black

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canada goose outlet in uk The Kentucky measure is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, who’s expected to sign it. The West Virginia bill is only now under consideration buy canada goose jacket cheap by a Senate committee. As in Kentucky, Republicans control both chambers of the West Virginia statehouse. The state’s governor, Jim Justice, is a billionaire coal operator and a Democrat. canada goose outlet in uk

canada goose outlet store uk The backers of those proposals argue that state inspections can afford to be cut in part because federal officials do their own inspections. Under federal law, the Mine Safety cheap canada goose uk and Health Administration, which is part of the Labor Department, inspects every active coal Canada Goose Parka mine at least Canada Goose Outlet four times each year. canada beachcottage goose outlet store uk

canada goose outlet buffalo But Kentucky and West Virginia have long had their canada goose uk black friday own safety programs as well, under the rationale that the states share an obligation to protect miners and prevent disasters like canada goose uk shop the one at Upper Big Branch, which claimed 29 West Virginia miners in 2010. canada goose coats on sale Advocates Canada Goose Jackets like Oppegard argue that the state inspections are essential to keeping mines safe, since federal officials alone don’t have all the resources and legal powers necessary to adequately monitor all the nation’s buy canada goose jacket mines. canada goose outlet buffalo

canada goose outlet in new york If anything, federal policing of the coal industry will probably be scaled back under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have been rapidly peeling back all manner of regulations on businesses, including coal canada goose coats companies. Trump’s new commerce secretary, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, owned the Sago mine in West Virginia in 2006 when an canada goose black friday sale explosion there cost the lives of 12 miners. canada goose outlet in new york

canada goose outlet price Although the White Canada Goose online House has not Canada Goose sale yet installed a new head of mine safety, canada goose factory sale Trump had complained on the campaign trail that mining regulations were too onerous. Coal operators could barely survive, he lamented canada goose outlet price.