As mining increased, MSHA cut staff

December 02, 2007
By Ken Ward Jr.
Staff writer

Between 2002 and 2006, the number of coal-mining operations nationwide increased by 9 percent. At the same time, the number of federal inspectors was cut by 18 percent.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration field offices were left strapped for staff.

The result?

Agency officials never conducted more than 150 required inspections at more than 100 underground mines across the coalfields, according to a government audit.

MSHA officials not only missed required inspections, but they misled agency managers — and the public — about inspection completion rates.

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This government now consists of nothing by lying crooked assholes ripping off the American public and killing our country.