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West Virginia mine safety officials are calling for a new group of inspectors dedicated to policing dangerous coal mines in response to an explosion that killed 29 men at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine.

The state Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety on Wednesday recommended that legislation to create the group be submitted at a special legislative session next week. Gov. Joe Manchin asked the board, which has rulemaking authority, to recommend ways to improve safety quickly after the April 5 explosion.

While the state Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training would continue as the industry's chief regulator, the legislation would create four special enforcement and accident prevention teams under the state Secretary of Commerce to target troubled mines.

The action comes as government investigators may be days away from re-entering the Upper Big Branch mine. Investigators need to go underground to look for clues to what caused the explosion. Since recovering the last of the 29 victims, they've been kept at bay by readings showing explosive gases and a possible fire in the sprawling underground mine.

New readings show the situation is improving, said safety board administrator Joel Watts. Massey is crafting a new plan for allowing investigators to re-enter the mine, Watts said. The plan would need state and federal approval.

Separately, Massey joined the call Wednesday for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to conduct a public hearing on the explosion. The Richmond, Va.-based company said transparency is an important part of the investigation, but cautioned that a public hearing must be fair to be credible, and must encompass "the basic principles of due process."

A public hearing, a rarely used procedure in a mine safety investigation, would be the only way for MSHA to subpoena witnesses.

The United Mine Workers union, the widow of one of the victims and the state safety board also have requested a public hearing.

Board member and coal industry lobbyist Chris Hamilton described the idea of creating a second safety agency as a novel response to Manchin's call for action even before investigators determine the cause of the April 5 explosion.

"He feels obligated to do something as governor," said Hamilton, who backs the idea. "If you're going to create something new, it ought to be new."

Any action West Virginia takes on mine safety ripples quickly through the industry. The state is the No. 2 coal producer in the country and the top producer from underground coal mines.

Board members envision an agency with four teams that would pick mines that pose a greater danger to miners based on various factors. The teams would have technical experts to help mines correct recurring problems and could cite or even shut down operations that violate state rules.

"You need to look at people a little bit harder that won't comply with all the rules," said board member Charles Russell, a safety official Arch Coal.

Sourced from www.businessweek.com