Here is something new. Massey said that if they were subjected to increased Federal mining inspection, it would reduce coal productivity. No shit. If they have to make safety a priority and put up with oversight, its gonna cost them.
Hmmmm! Every time a worker dies in one of their mines, they trot out the "safety of our employee's is our number one priority" show. It comes with tears, very stern faces and short talks with the family members involved.
So, how do we know they are lying? Not just because their lips are moving. No. In this case they have told us exactly what their highest priority really amounts to. It's coal production. They don't want any of that government interference going on.
And, there you have it. Straight from Massey. The coal that they are digging up to send to China is more important than any damned government regulation. Or, miners lives either, for that matter.
2 comments:
Clearly, the price of coal is artificially low because of all of the externalized costs - those costs for worker safety, environmental protection, and community health that are NOT being borne by the mining companies. The price of Appalachian coal is about $60 per ton, but it probably should be about $300 per ton if ALL of the costs were factored in. Then we'd see a more level playing field for renewables. One way to help balance the price with the costs is to demand that the regulatory and oversight agencies DO THEIR JOBS. A major report just released by the Citizens Coal Council ("Protection of Water Resources From Longwall Mining is Needed in Southwestern Pennsylvania") shows how PADEP is failing to enforce the laws and regulations it is empowered to administer and, as a result, is allowing the destruction and degradation of streams and other water resources. See http://www.schmidco.com/Final%20Report%2026%20July%202010.pdf
What we know is that up to this moment, state agencies just don't do their jobs. Not just in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but in all of the mining states.
As for the costs of carbon fuels, we could use some assistance from the old line media in spreading that truth. Any dat now.
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