MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                          2991

Coal Mines - Safety Standards

FOR the purpose of requesting that the U. S. Secretary of
Interior amend certain mandatory safety standards
for Maryland coal mines.

The Secretary of the Interior of the United States
is vested with authority to promulgate nation-wide
mandatory safety rules and regulations dealing with coal
mines.

Certain safety regulations require expensive water
systems and electrical equipment to prevent nine
explosions due to gas.

[[In Maryland, these regulations serve no purpose
because of the non—gaseous nature of our coal mines.]]

In Maryland, the arbitrary application of these
regulations has caused great hardship which will effect
future energy conscious generations.

Before the implementation of these regulations,
Maryland had 28 operating mines with 129 underground
employees, producing 236,986 tons of coal.

Now, due to these regulations, Maryland has one
remaining deep mine with 18 employees, producing only
67,880 tons of coal.

It has become more difficult to attract and train
young men as miners.

As Maryland's coal requirements increase, we will be
more dependent upon other states to fill our needs during
the energy crisis, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED by the [[House of Delegates]] General
Assembly of Maryland, That the Secretary of Interior of
the United States if he determines that there is no risk
to minors should amend the mandatory rules and
regulations pertaining to mine safety in order to allow
Maryland to resume deep coal mining without the necessity
of installing prohibitively expensive water systems; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That the [[Chief Clerk of the House]]
Secretary of State send copies of this Resolution to the
U. S. Secretary of the Interior, the Federal Bureau of
Mines and the Maryland Congressional Delegation, in the
U. S. Congress.

Approved April 9, 1974.