US House Labor Chair Miller releases list of potentially dangerous U.S. Mines

As the nation ponders the safety of U.S. coal mines, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee released a list of 48 mines considered potentially dangerous, including three metals mines.

RENO, NV -

Three precious metals mines operated by Barrick, Newmont and Revett are among the 48 U.S. coal, industrial mineral and other kinds of mines identified by federal officials as potentially dangerous with a pattern of health and safety violations.

U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-California, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the list of miners identified by MSHA for increased scrutiny, but were not targeted due to unresolved appeals filed by mine operators.

The list includes the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia where 29 coal miners lost their lives in an April 5^th explosion. Only three precious metal mines made the list: Barrick's Meikle gold mine, Newmont's Deep Post gold mine, both of which are located in Nevada, and Revett Minerals Genesis Inc. Troy silver-copper mine in Montana. The Deep Post Mine ceased operations last year.

Under current law MSHA issues a letter to frequent violators warning them that they may be sanctioned under a so-called "pattern of violation." Once the mine is notified that they may be under a pattern of violation, the operator must take immediate actions to reduce future violations or face drastic sanctions including mine closure for any future significant violation.

Mines are subject to a pattern of violation sanction when they meet 10 criteria indicating the operation is a habitual violator of mine safety laws. The criteria includes mines that have at least 20 significant and substantial violations, at least two elevated enforcement actions, and one unwarrantable failure violation over the previous 24 months. These violations must be fully adjudicated and the mines must have a violation rate that is 25% higher than the industry average over the same period.

A check by Mineweb Wednesday night of MSHA records found Meikle and Troy have reported fatalities within the past 10 years

However, the Deep Post Mine was honored by the Nevada Mining Association for a number of years for its safety performance.

In a news release, Miller said, "We owe it to the families of these fallen miners, all mining communities across the country, and the American people to ensure that all relevant information regarding potentially dangerous mines be made public, especially as investigations into the explosion of the Upper Big Branch mine continues. Mine operators who game the system must be held accountable."

As of Mineweb's deadline early Thursday morning, neither Newmont nor Barrick had sufficient time to review and respond to the allegations contained in Miller's news release. However, Newmont Nevada Manager of External Relations Mary Korpi told Mineweb late Wednesday that the company aims to ensure that each employee who reports to work in the morning will return safety to his or her family at night every single day.