Donald Trump made appealing to coal miners a central theme of his presidential campaign. But the man he picked to run the agency overseeing their safety has moved to undermine a vital rule protecting them.https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chrishamby/under-trump-repeat-mine-safety-violators-have-less-to-fear?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc …
-
-
Since Zatezalo took control of MSHA, he has taken steps that could gut the agency’s Pattern of Violations rule, a punishment that threatens unsafe mines with expensive shutdowns and is seen as the agency's most powerful tool for ensuring miner safety.
Show this thread -
Under the Obama administration, MSHA defended the rule. But the Trump administration is negotiating a settlement to a lawsuit filed by a trade group — the one Zatezalo used to run — seeking to invalidate it. Zatezalo has not recused himself from those talks.
Show this thread -
In a separate case, MSHA cut a deal that lifted the Pattern of Violations status from Pocahontas Coal Company — a move that may have violated federal law. The only way to have the status removed is to pass an inspection without "significant and substantial” violations.
Show this thread -
But there’s no evidence Pocahontas’ mine ever achieved that. In fact, the mine has continued to be cited for serious violations this year, including one issued a week before the settlement went final.
Show this thread -
The settlement itself was secret until an independent judicial agency questioned why secrecy was necessary (MSHA and the company unsealed their filings rather than provide an explanation).
Show this thread -
A former Obama official called the settlement “shocking” and “illegal,” and the head of MSHA under Obama worried it could undercut “the biggest disaster-prevention action taken” during the last 40 years.https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chrishamby/under-trump-repeat-mine-safety-violators-have-less-to-fear?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc …
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.