1989-04-06_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017

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In' SPections . eased as mine ' roved p Heather McGregor , Nighthorse Campbell, D-Ignacio, Daily Sentinel who helped mediate Mid-Conti- nent's complaints about the inten- REDSTONE —After six months sive inspections. of intensive inspections at the Mid- "This provei the free enterprise Continent Resources mines here, system works best-when it's safe federal and company officials are and profitable;'Campbell said. 1 now working as a team, and most DeMichiei said he ordered the laid-off workers are back on the unheard-of degree of inspections job. after ' studying Mid-Continent's "Instead of an adversarial rela- safety record. tionship, it's teamwork,"said Mid- It is one of the country's most'dif- Continent President John Reeves ficult mines,Reeves said,because today. it lies a mile underground in very J As of Monday,federal Mine Safe- gassy coal seams. ty and Health Administration A gas explosion on April 15,1981, Western Manager John DeMichiei claimed the lives of 15 Mid-Conti- said he's cut back mine inspectors vent miners • from five or six per shift to just two "If we hadn't interceded,"DeMi- for the whole operation.. _ 'chiei said,"I was concerned there After a recent visit to the Coal . would., have been another inci- Basin mines, which employ more dent" ' than 300 workers, DeMichie# said Reeves said in recent months he believes Mid-Continent- has the company has brought back all made health and safety its priority. but 13 of the 140 workers it laid off "I was very impressed with what last October at the height of con- conversat ions ore iwith miners, they troversy over the inspections. told me they were extremely He expects to-bring back those pleased. They had a real sense of men this month,as the mine ships pride and accomplishment in what more coal to the Geneva Steel they'd done." Works in Orem, Utah, and to steel The success was good news for manufacturers in South-Korea and 3rd District Congressman Ben Japan.