Inside Appalachia again has several excellent pieces about mine safety and the recent mine disasters.

The first report talks about the Alma mine fire, and has an interview with a beltman at the Alma mine. If what he says is true, then the legislation that was just passed isn’t going to be nearly enough.

The miner interviewed claims that a similar fire happened at the exact same spot two days before Christmas. He also says that at that time, the fire fighting equipment didn’t work properly.

Supporting his claim is the fact that MSHA cited Massey twelve times since June for inadequate fire fighting equipment.

Additionally, a proposed rule to require belts like the one that caused the fire in the Alma mine, to be made of inflammable material, was killed by federal mine regulators in 2002.