A judge from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ordered the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to increase the amount of training for rescue teams at small mines.  Additionally, state mine inspectors will no longer be able to substitute work for rescue training.

Read the Associated Press release at Google News.

Pending further review by Barack Obama's administration, the introduction of newer coal dust monitors throughout the United States is currently on hold.  The monitors, proposed by MSHA four days prior to President Obama taking office, would replace antiquated monitoring technology from the 1970's.

Sparse details are provided by WSAZ NewsChannel 3.