Promoting Mine Safety?

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has cited International Coal Group, the owners of the West Virginia mine where twelve died earlier this year, 273 times since 2004. The largest fine was $460; many were for only $60. The administration argues that cooperating with the mine operators improves safety more than fining them. Well, at $60 a pop, the fine is a small cost of doing business. Not only have the fines been lowered in the past few years, almost half of the fines have not been collected.