Rendell Signs Updated Pennsylvania Mine-Safety Bill

Gov. Ed Rendell has signed into law the first comprehensive update to Pennsylvania’s mine safety law in nearly half a century.

It addresses emergency shelters and accidental breaches of flooded mines, as occurred in the “nine for nine” accident six years ago at Quecreek Mine in Somerset County.

The law also creates a Board of Coal Mine Safety that will have the authority to write new mine safety regulations.

Rendell signed the law at the Robena Miners Memorial in Greene County on Monday. In December 1962, an explosion of methane and coal dust killed 37 miners at the Robena mine.

Pennsylvania has some 4,200 underground bituminous coal miners. Rendell says they deserve a safe workplace.