In pursuit of an independent investigation

Gov. Jon Huntsman has begun laying the groundwork for an independent panel to investigate the Crandall Canyon Mine tragedy and make recommendations to ensure safety in Utah mines. It's a sign of leadership and he should be congratulated.

I hope he puts an emphasis on independent in the best Western sense of the word and tries to sidestep the Mine Safety and Health Administration, an agency President Bush stacked with mining industry insiders - including MSHA boss Richard Stickler who was recess appointed last October after it was clear Democratic and Republican senators from coal country (excluding senators from Utah's coal country) would block his appointment.

And now here he is ... in the mountains of the Wasatch Plateau at Crandall Canyon.

A Jan. 31, 2006, report from the Democratic staff of House Education and Workforce Committee examined the adverse impact Bush's appointees from the coal industry have had on mine safety.

In the top 10 management positions at the safety agencies, the report lists eight former coal industry or coal industry association executives. The only top-level administrator in either agency with a connection to workers is a Mine Safety and Health Review commissioner who served as a United Mine Workers of America attorney. She was appointed by the Clinton administration. The 10th post is vacant.

The House report shows not only are the number of major fines down by 10 percent since the Bush administration took over MSHA, but the median amount of those fines has dropped 43 percent.

Also, since the Bush administration began packing MSHA with coal industry executives, it withdrew 17 proposed new safety rules, including those addressing safety standards for the emergency oxygen devices miners carry. After reports that the devices have not worked properly in recent emergencies and MSHA ignored requests to begin inspections, the UMWA filed a lawsuit to force MSHA to begin oxygen pack inspections immediately.

Bush rode into Washington and made life sweet again for big business. But the cost was a reduced commitment to workplace safety.

Richard Stickler may be sincerely interested in making sure more coal miners don't get killed. But what we need for Huntsman's investigation from MSHA is someone not only knowledgeable and concerned, but someone with the vision, personal strength, independence, dynamic personality, and political sophistication to navigate the Byzantine world of corporate interests, public opinion, the media, internal politics of Congress, Elaine Chao's Department of Labor, and Dick Cheney's energy industry friendly White House.

It's a tall order.

As Wayne Holland, chairman of the Utah Democratic Party, said: "We are concerned about Stickler’s ability to hold mining companies truly accountable. He has maintained a high profile throughout this ordeal at the Crandall Canyon Mine and appears concerned. But given his track record, we can only disagree with Sen. Hatch when he characterizes Stickler as 'very competent.'

"Hatch says Stickler has done his best. Well, his best has not been good enough for nine Utah miners and their families."

www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061019-8.html