ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2437
(
By Delegates Caputo, Manchin, Longstreth,
Poore, Manypenny, L. Phillips and D. Poling
)
[Passed March 12, 2011; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to
amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §22A-6-11; relating
to directing the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety to
conduct study of whether to require installation of mining
machines automatic shut-offs when methane is detected.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931 as amended, be amended by
adding thereto a new section, designated §22A-6-11, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 6. BOARD OF COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY.
§22A-6-11. Study of methane detecting shut off devices.
Study of Automatic shut-down of mining machines. -- The Board
of Coal Mine Health and Safety is directed to conduct a study of
the safety of installation of methane detection shut-off devices on
machine extraction apparatus, including, but not limited to, long wall sheers and cutter heads. The Office shall study the benefits
and appropriateness of requiring the installation of these devices,
to determine if there are safety benefits, and whether the Office
recommends to the Legislature that requirements regarding mandating
these devises in underground mines is warranted. The Office shall
report to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Government and
Finance by December 31, 2011 with recommendations regarding whether
it is appropriate to implement any requirements.