Rockefeller to Take Part in Senate Mine-Safety Hearing

Tomorrow afternoon, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will meet to examine the country’s mine safety policies — the first such exploration since 29 miners were killed in a horrific mine blast in Southern West Virginia on April 5. And although Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) isn’t a member of that panel, he’s been asked to participate in the proceedings, his office just announced.

Federal regulators have been feeling the heat since this month’s blast, with many critics — including former federal regulators — arguing that recent safety concerns at the Upper Big Branch mine should have led the Mine Safety and Health Administration to shut the project down. Joe Main, who heads MSHA, is expected to testify at tomorrow’s hearing.

Notably, no representative of Massey Energy, the company that owns the mine, is scheduled to appear.