The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, U.S. Public Law 91-173, generally referred to as the Coal Act, was passed by the 91st United States Congressional session and enacted into law by the 37th President of the United StatesRichard Nixon on December 30, 1969.[1]
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969
Long title
An Act to provide for the protection of the health and safety of persons working in the coal mining industry of the United States, and for other purposes.
Reported by the joint conference committee on December 17, 1969; agreed to by the House on December 17, 1969 (agreed) and by the Senate on December 18, 1969 (agreed)
Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 30, 1969
MSHAs responsibilities paralleled those of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) but addressed underground and surface mining of coal. The legislation was more comprehensive and stringent than previous federal laws governing the mining industry.
The Coal Act required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine, and dramatically increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines. The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations, and established criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations. The safety standards for all coal mines were strengthened, and health standards were adopted.
The Coal Act also included specific procedures for the development of improved mandatory health and safety standards, and provided compensation for miners who were totally and permanently disabled by the progressive respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of fine coal dust pneumoconiosis or "black lung".
In regard to the mine map repository, the Coal Act required that:
"Whenever an operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than ninety days, he shall promptly notify the Secretary of such closure. Within sixty days of the permanent closure or abandonment of the mine, or, when the mine is temporarily closed, upon the expiration of a period of ninety days from the date of closure, the operator shall file with the Secretary a copy of the mine map revised and supplemented to the date of the closure."
Initial enforcement of the law was slow due to understaffed enforcement agencies, a situation which was criticized when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster occurred a year to the day after passage of the act, killing 38 men in a mine with a long history of violations.[2]
^Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Richard Nixon: "Statement on Signing the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.," December 30, 1969". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
^Franklin, Ben A. (1971-01-01). "Re-check Was Overdue; Mine Where 38 Died Had Record of Safety Risks". The New York Times.
federal, coal, mine, health, safety, 1969, public, generally, referred, coal, passed, 91st, united, states, congressional, session, enacted, into, 37th, president, united, states, richard, nixon, december, 1969, long, titlean, provide, protection, health, safe. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 U S Public Law 91 173 generally referred to as the Coal Act was passed by the 91st United States Congressional session and enacted into law by the 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon on December 30 1969 1 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969Long titleAn Act to provide for the protection of the health and safety of persons working in the coal mining industry of the United States and for other purposes Acronyms colloquial FCMHSA CMHSANicknamesCoal ActEnacted bythe 91st United States CongressEffectiveDecember 30 1969CitationsPublic law91 173Statutes at Large83 Stat 742CodificationTitles amended30 U S C Mineral Lands and MiningU S C sections created30 U S C ch 22 801 et seq Legislative historyIntroduced in the Senate as S 2917 by Harrison A Williams D NJ on September 17 1969Committee consideration by Senate Labor and Public WelfarePassed the Senate on October 2 1969 passed Passed the House on October 29 1969 passed Reported by the joint conference committee on December 17 1969 agreed to by the House on December 17 1969 agreed and by the Senate on December 18 1969 agreed Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 30 1969Major amendmentsMine Safety and Health Act of 1977 The S 2917 legislation created the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration MESA later renamed the Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA as well as a National Mine Map Repository within the Department of the Interior MSHAs responsibilities paralleled those of Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA but addressed underground and surface mining of coal The legislation was more comprehensive and stringent than previous federal laws governing the mining industry The Coal Act required two annual inspections of every surface coal mine and four at every underground coal mine and dramatically increased federal enforcement powers in coal mines The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations and established criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations The safety standards for all coal mines were strengthened and health standards were adopted The Coal Act also included specific procedures for the development of improved mandatory health and safety standards and provided compensation for miners who were totally and permanently disabled by the progressive respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of fine coal dust pneumoconiosis or black lung In regard to the mine map repository the Coal Act required that Whenever an operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of more than ninety days he shall promptly notify the Secretary of such closure Within sixty days of the permanent closure or abandonment of the mine or when the mine is temporarily closed upon the expiration of a period of ninety days from the date of closure the operator shall file with the Secretary a copy of the mine map revised and supplemented to the date of the closure Initial enforcement of the law was slow due to understaffed enforcement agencies a situation which was criticized when the Hurricane Creek mine disaster occurred a year to the day after passage of the act killing 38 men in a mine with a long history of violations 2 It was updated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 Public Law 95 164 See also editNational Mine Map Repository Coal mining in the United States List of coal mines in the United States Mining accident Occupational Safety and Health ActReferences edit Peters Gerhard Woolley John T Richard Nixon Statement on Signing the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 December 30 1969 The American Presidency Project University of California Santa Barbara Franklin Ben A 1971 01 01 Re check Was Overdue Mine Where 38 Died Had Record of Safety Risks The New York Times External links editMSHA website History of federal mine safety legislation accessed March 8 2006 US Code Legislative history Archived 2006 03 02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 amp oldid 1201408611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
