Communications to-Continued Yablonski, Joseph A., Esq., c/o Rauh and Silard,, Washington, D.C., Morrell, Gene P., Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Wheeler, Henry P., Jr., Acting Deputy Director, Health and Letters of Information to the Gateway Coal Co., Clarksville, Greene Coun- No. 1. Notice of: Abatement or extension, from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Penalty, from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, to Gateway Coal Co., Clarksville, Greene County, Pa., April 4, 1970__ Violation, from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, to Gateway Coal Co., Clarksville, Greene County, Pa., April 4, 1970__ Violation, from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, to Gateway Coal Co., Clarksville, Greene County, Pa., June 3, 1970__ Questions submitted by Hon. Harrison A. Williams, Jr., a U.S. Senator from the State of New Jersey, to the Department of the Interior___. Record of meetings and briefings held by the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Mines in connection with coal mine health and safety legislation Congress Reports: Coal mine gas (frictional) ignition, Gateway Mine, Gateway Coal Co., May 26, 1969_ June 9, 1969, by Henry Zavora, Federal coal miner inspector (roof control) Coal mine gas (frictional) ignition, Vesta No. 5 Mine, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Vesta-Shannopin Coal Division, Vestaburg, Washington County, Pa., by Henry Zavora, federal coal mine inspector (roof control), U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, coal mine safety District A, March 30, 1970--Coal-mine inspection. Homer City Mine, the Helen Mining Co., Homer City, Indiana County, Pa., April 6-8, 1970, by Stanley J. Smetana, federal coal-mine inspector_. Coal mine inspection, Maple Creek Mine, United States Steel Corporatioi, coal operations-raw materials, Frick District, New Eagle, Washington County, Pa., by James B. Shannon, federal coal mine inspector, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, March 30-31, 1970-- Coal mine explosion, Homer City Mine, The Helen Mining Co., Homer Maple Creek Mine, U.S. Steel Corp., coal operations-raw materials, Selected tables: Bureau of Mines, Health and Safety, summary of fund distribution, fiscal years 1970-1971-- Chronological listing of PHS accomplishments under Public Law 91-173 Page 709 784 239 Coal mines in which spot inspections shall be made pursuant to Sec. 678 242 Lost time injuries and accidents by occupation & causes, etc‒‒‒‒‒‒ 672-675 676 Recapitulation of mines, production and distribution, summary of reports 677 Schedule for walk-in examinations of personnel seeking mine-inspection jobs and location___ 765 Unobligated funds appropriated to the Bureau of Mines for health and safety for fiscal year 1970 as of June 30, 1970. 749 HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE COAL MINES FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1970 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Centerville, Pa. The subcommittee met at 9:24 a.m., pursuant to call, in the high school gymnasium, Centerville, Pa., Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senator Williams. Committee staff members present: Gerald M. Feder, associate counsel, Labor Subcommittee; Michael S. Gordon, special minority counsel; George Lawless, professional staff member, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare; and Richard D. Siegel, legislative counsel to Senator Richard S. Schweiker. Senator WILLIAMS. The subcommittee will proceed with the hearing on the problems of health and safety in the coal mines and operations under the new law that is now effective that was enacted to bring greater safety to the coal mines and to demand better conditions for better health for the coal miner. We know that this is a matter of the greatest concern to the men who work in the mines, and their concern is our concern, too. The Welfare of the coal miners certainly has proven to be a matter of deep concern to the Congress of the United States when we enacted the law that brings standards designed for better health and safety. It is our job in the Congress to watch on the administration of that law to see how it is going, and that is why we are here: to find out from the men who do the mining just what conditions are like today. We are fortunate as the committee to have Frank Bishop with us this morning to start us off and to guide us through this morning's hearing discussion with the men that are gathered here today. Mr. Bishop, we welcome you. STATEMENT OF FRANK BISHOP, SAFETY COMMITTEEMAN, JONES & LAUGHLIN VESTA NO. 5 MINE, VESTABURG, PA. Mr. BISHOP. Thank you, Senator. We are glad you people came out to see some of our needs, some of our wants. I have my brothers out here and most of them are members of the safety committee as myself. I am on the safety committee. Senator WILLIAMS. Wait. Maybe you had better, for our record, just sort of describe yourself, where you work and how long you have been a miner, so we know you a little better. Mr. BISHOP. Well, first, I have been a miner for 31 years. I worked for Jones & Laughlin (J. & L.) Vesta No. 5 Mine. I am a member of the safety committee. I might say that I am glad that this law was enacted, to make it short, to answer some of the cries and the needs of our people. We know that coal mining is really hazardous. Up until now we have had a few State laws which were not in conjunction with this law here but the act itself now since it has been enacted is the answer to all of our needs and prayers here. Now our problem right here in the coal fields today is to get the enforcement of these laws. That is the main reason we are here today. Some of our brothers here have a lot of questions-not only questions, they have a lot of answers and a lot to tell about these laws and things. So if you don't mind, Senator, some of them out there have some problems. Just raise your hand and talk directly to the Senator here. We will try to make it as brief as possible. Senator WILLIAMS. Well, we want to hear anybody that wants to be heard. Would it not be better if whoever wants to help us came on up here. A couple of fellows can come up at a time. STATEMENT OF JOHN OZONISH, SAFETY COMMITTEEMAN, GATEWAY MINE, GATEWAY COAL CO., CLARKSVILLE, PA. Mr. OZONISH. Senator Williams, Mr. Bishop and all interested persons here. I think we have a great Senator WILLIAMS. Tell us who you are for the record. Mr. OZONISH. I represent the safety committee at our Gateway Mine at Gateway Coal Co. J. & L. has had a safety committee for 15 years. My name is John Ozonish. I am here in the interest of all the miners I represent as a safety committeeman. I have worked in a coal mine since 1930, and I saw a lot since that time. There were bad conditions in 1930. Things were corrected since 1930 but we still have lots of problems in coal mining. We have new systems coming in, great machines come in, and they produce coal but they produce hazards with it. Dust, for one thing. In our mine we have around 21 miles of belt. We have no cars. We have an all-belt system in our mine and dust problems are hazardous. I would like for you, Senator Williams, if it would be possible to make a trip to our mine to see the conditions that arise there. We |