NationStates Jolt Archive

From the Washington Post (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10706084/):

Time and again over the past four years, federal mining inspectors documented the same litany of problems at central West Virginia's Sago Mine: mine roofs that tended to collapse without warning. Faulty or inadequate tunnel supports. A dangerous buildup of flammable coal dust.

Yesterday, the mine's safety record came into sharp focus as officials searched for explanations for Monday's underground explosion. That record, as reflected in dozens of federal inspection reports, shows a succession of operators struggling to overcome serious, long-standing safety problems, some of which could be part of the investigation into the cause of the explosion that trapped 13 miners.

In the past two years, the mine was cited 273 times for safety violations, of which about a third were classified as "significant and substantial," according to documents compiled by the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Many were for problems that could contribute to accidental explosions or the collapse of mine tunnels, records show.

Now, with that kind of track record--and the article goes into specifics about the violations, which included inadequate safeguards against the collapse of the mine roof and inadequate ventilation to guard against the buildup of deadly gases--you have to wonder why the mine was still operating, why federal regulators hadn't shut it down.

Well, I don't want to say that the guy in charge of the MSHA is a political crony, but looking at his bio, I've got to wonder (http://www.msha.gov/asinfo.htm) just what his qualifications are:
David G. Dye came to the U.S. Department of Labor in June 2001, where he served as deputy assistant secretary for the Employment and Training Administration. He later served at MSHA as its deputy assistant secretary for policy beginning in May 2004.

Previously, he worked in separate assignments as chief counsel to the House Resources Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Before that, Dye served as counsel to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Later, he worked as director of external affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration and as counsel to the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.

Before coming to Washington, Dye served as the professional staff to two committees of the Alaska Senate-as special assistant to Alaska's lieutenant governor and as a regional and urban planner with the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs.

Dye received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He graduated from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H., in 1979.I don't see much in there about mining. Could we possibly have another Michael Brown/FEMA fiasco here?

I don't see much in there about mining. Could we possibly have another Michael Brown/FEMA fiasco here?
I don't think so. Presumably this guy is only in charge of setting up safety standards and such, which are in place, but inspection and enforcement probably are somewhere further down the line, maybe even at state or local government level.

I don't know much about the issue here, but those are the questions I'd have.

I don't think so. Presumably this guy is only in charge of setting up safety standards and such, which are in place, but inspection and enforcement probably are somewhere further down the line, maybe even at state or local government level.

I don't know much about the issue here, but those are the questions I'd have.
Someone at that level, however, would presumably be in charge of funding enforcement officers, right? And the story under the Bush administration across the board is one of cutting funds and personnel to enforcement agencies in order to give corporations a free hand.

Someone at that level, however, would presumably be in charge of funding enforcement officers, right? And the story under the Bush administration across the board is one of cutting funds and personnel to enforcement agencies in order to give corporations a free hand.
During the Carter Administration, my father was the director of enforcement for OSHA.

The corruption in those organizations stems largely from them being bureaucracies, and is largely independent of their funding and independent of who is President.

Then President Carter "visited" OSHA headquarters once during his entire term - most Presidents never visit.

Your assumption that somehow the executive should be or is aware of what goes on at the enforcement level is laughably naive.

During the Carter Administration, my father was the director of enforcement for OSHA.

The corruption in those organizations stems largely from them being bureaucracies, and is largely independent of their funding and independent of who is President.

Then President Carter "visited" OSHA headquarters once during his entire term - most Presidents never visit.

Your assumption that somehow the executive should be or is aware of what goes on at the enforcement level is laughably naive.
All of which has not one fucking thing to do with my comment. Never said Bush ought to be intimately involved with the inner workings of those departments--I'd be frightened if he were, quite frankly. But the guy in charge of the department ought to be, and from his bio, it looks like his strong suit is political hackery, not mine safety.

Well, I don't want to say that the guy in charge of the MSHA is a political crony, but looking at his bio, I've got to wonder (http://www.msha.gov/asinfo.htm) just what his qualifications are, I don't see much in there about mining. Could we possibly have another Michael Brown/FEMA fiasco here?
Oh God, I hope not. If these violations are a new development, perhaps the safety records of other mines should be reviewed as well.

All of which has not one fucking thing to do with my comment. Never said Bush ought to be intimately involved with the inner workings of those departments--I'd be frightened if he were, quite frankly. But the guy in charge of the department ought to be, and from his bio, it looks like his strong suit is political hackery, not mine safety.
Most senior people like that are career bureaucrats, "managers" and their skills have nothing to do with what their department actually does.

They are chosen ostensibly for their "organizational skills" and ability to run a large organization, and not for their knowledge of the meat and potatoes of what their department is responsible for.

I already have a dim view of the Federal bureaucracy, regardless of who is in office or who was appointed.

Maybe that's because I've seen too many Federal bureaucrats who are wasting our oxygen by continuing to breathe air.

If you're expecting some sort of sense of responsibility and actual acumen on the part of the Federal Bureaucracy, you might as well start believing in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.

Come down to DC and stay with me for a week. I'll give you a tour of several - the US Postal Service, the EPA, and DISA - you had better bring some anti-nausea drugs - and these have been rotten for decades.