FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1050

                         C 140 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Relieving the department of labor and industries of the duties of coal mine inspection.

Sponsors:  Representatives Conway and Clements; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Labor & Workforce Development

Background:

The state coal mining code was first enacted before the turn of the century.  It primarily addressed the underground mining of coal.   In 1997, the Legislature repealed the statute regulating coal mining.  The statute was repealed because the federal government had taken over regulation of coal mining operations and because there were no longer any operational underground coal mines in Washington.  The Department of Labor and Industries does not regulate or inspect coal mines.

Summary:

Two statutes concerning coal mine inspections are repealed.  (These sections were omitted in 1997 when the Legislature repealed the mining statute.)

The repealed statutes require the Department of Labor and Industries to inspect coal mines for compliance with the mining codes, investigate any explosions or loss of life at a mine, authorize courts to order recalcitrant owners to permit inspections of a mine, and create a process for gaining and enforcing orders for corrective action issued by courts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House950

Senate450

Effective:July 25, 1999