Mine Safety Snafu?

During a test of temporary mining rules mandating immediate notification of the federal government after a serious accident, one mine company called as required - and was put on hold twice, a company official said Wednesday.

Even then, the company couldn't reach the right person to report to, said Ken Russell of Jim Walter Resources.

Russell spoke during a public hearing convened by the Mine Safety and Health Administration aimed at getting feedback on the safety regulations, adopted after a pair of deadly accidents in West Virginia.

An explosion Jan. 2 at the Sago Mine claimed 12 lives, and two weeks later a fire at the Aracoma mine killed two. There have been 26 mining deaths in the U.S. this year, including two last week in Kentucky.

Russell's telephone ordeal will be addressed, said Patricia Silvey, acting director of MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

"We're going to look into that," she said. "If there are some improvements we can make in terms of that, we will."

The hearing was the second of four held by MSHA on the safety standards, which were put in effect for nine months.

Among the proposed rules are a 15-minute limit to notify federal officials of serious accidents, evacuation drills every 90 days and making two air tanks available to every worker in the event of an emergency.

Members of the United Mine Workers of America said the government should keep tougher safety standards to protect miners.

"This year, this agency has failed 26 times," Tim Baker, the union's deputy director of health and mine safety. "Failure can no longer be an option."

The 15-minute rule - hailed as necessary for accountability by one side, as cumbersome by the other - provoked the most debate.

Bill Caylor, spokesman for the Kentucky Coal Association, said coal operators in Kentucky already have to call state mine officials within the time limit - and having to call two agencies eats up valuable time.

Tony Oppegard, an attorney with the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, called that argument "a red herring."

"If someone's under a rock, another guy isn't going to say 'I'll be back in 15 minutes, I have to call MSHA,"' Oppegard said.