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STATE OF COLORADO ROY ROMER,Governor Geological Survey <br /> DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Board of Land Commissioners <br /> Mined Land Reclamation <br /> HAMLET J. BARRY III, Executive Director Division of Mines <br /> 1313 Sherman St,Room 718, Denver,Colorado 80203 866-3311 Oil and Gas Conservation Commission <br /> Division of Parks& Outdoor Recreation <br /> Soil Conservation Board <br /> Water Conservation Board <br /> Division of Water Resources <br /> i <br /> `- Division of Wildlife <br /> M E M O R A N D U M <br /> TO: Governor Romer <br /> Joel Kohn <br /> FROM: Ch Barr* <br /> Rqn attany <br /> DATE: November 23, 1988 <br /> SUBJECT: Mid-Continent Mine <br /> Attached is a draft letter for the Governor to send to the Assistant <br /> Secretary of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) concerning <br /> the situation at the Mid-Continent Mine. <br /> Over the past several weeks, we have met with the mine managers, <br /> mine owners, miners and officials of MSHA. While Colorado does not have <br /> direct jurisdiction over federal health and safety inspections, we do <br /> have a responsibility to promote mine safety and support local efforts to <br /> preserve jobs. Therefore, the appropriate role of the state is to <br /> encourage the parties to develop mutually acceptable short and long term <br /> solutions to the safety problems at the mine. Where appropriate, we can <br /> provide or seek additional technical assistance to aid the discussion. <br /> The language in the attached letter has been mutually agreed to by <br /> MSHA, Mid-Continent and DNR. We urge the letter be mailed within the <br /> next few days. <br /> Discussions of the draft have had a sobering effect on the company. <br /> There is a history of safety problems at the mine, including an explosion <br /> that killed 15 miners in 1981 . However, the mine has begun some diligent <br /> and good-faith discussions internally and with MSHA regarding ventilation <br /> of methane gas and control of respiratory dust. The anticipation of the <br /> letter has also toned-down the zeal of the district manager of MSHA. His <br /> approach to enforcement and compliance were the subject of a heated <br /> meeting last week with western coal operators and Assistant Secretary <br /> O'Neal . MSHA recognizes the personality problems of the regional manager <br /> and Mid-Continent and has not included him in some recent discussions. <br />