1989-04-06_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017

Home Browse Search

DRAFT FOR GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE November 22, 1988 Mr. David C. O'Neal Assistant Secretary Mine Safety and Health Administration 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 622 Arlington, Virginia 22203-1984 Dear Mr. O'Neal : I have recently become aware of the controversy between the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Mid-Continent Resources about safety conditions at the Dutch Creek Mine near Redstone. As Governor, I am concerned about the safety of the workers in the mine as well as the economic viability of the operation. With the arrival of John DeMichiei as District Manager of MSHA, the MSHA inspection and enforcement program has been stepped up and intensified. Under the more rigorous inspection program, many mines in Colorado have come under intense scrutiny and various safety violations have been cited and remedied as a condition of continued mining. The new vigor in the MSHA program is significant because S.B. 128 (1988) removed the Colorado Division of Mines from inspection and enforcement programs while retaining health and safety responsibilities. However, we hope that the prior history of State-MSHA consultation on mine safety issues will continue as before. I am aware of the high methane gas content, inherently difficult geology, and historic safety violations and accidents at the mine. I believe that where safety violations exist, they must be remedied, and I do not believe that safety standards should be reduced or compromised. I am concerned, however, that the intensive MSHA effort to cite current problems in a non-prioritized fashion may prevent Mid-Continent mine officials from developing and implementing both short and long-term plans to upgrade the safety of the mine. Constant inspections, citations and closure orders, coupled with mandatory re-working of solutions already implemented, has essentially brought the mine to a standstill .