While a substantial number of violations were recorded, none posed any safety risk to miners and all were corrected immediately during the reinspection effort, Rendell’s office said.

The Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Mine Safety inspected sensitive areas where significant hazards could exist in underground mines, focusing specifically on points that may have played a role in the West Virginia accidents.

The inspections looked at 35 underground bituminous mines, 34 underground anthracite and industrial mineral mines, and 10 preparation plants. The safety initiative covered about 4700 miners.

DEP reported 361 violations during 304 inspection days at the 79 sites – an overall average of 1.18 violations per inspection day. Site inspections ranged from a single visit at smaller mines to 10 at larger operations, for an average of 3.48 inspection days per site.

The majority of violations were for equipment maintenance, spilled lubricants and clean-up. All violations were corrected immediately during the reinspection effort.

The enhanced inspections were conducted on top of all normal inspection activities, which continued as scheduled, and done in conjunction with the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.

MSHA looked at conveyor belt entries and associated equipment, issuing 97 violations in bituminous operations and 10 violations in the anthracite mines.

DEP focused on the working sections of the mines by looking at roof control plans, ventilation, clean-ups, electrical equipment and rock-dusting procedures. Safety inspectors also examined all seals and sealed areas to check construction work and ensure adequate ventilation. DEP electrical inspectors looked at electrical installations away from the working sections.

Each year, DEP's Bureau of Mine Safety inspects approximately 200 underground mines and related facilities. Underground bituminous mines must be inspected quarterly and the electrical equipment used in those mines must be checked every six months. Anthracite underground mines must be inspected every two months and the electrical equipment used in those mines also must be checked every six months. Industrial mineral mines are inspected every quarter.

The governor also has proposed legislative changes to create a three-member Mine Safety Board with the authority to promulgate regulations to keep pace with changing mine safety technology, make the mine operator/owner primarily responsible for safety compliance at the mine, and allow the department to assess fines and penalties for noncompliance.

Since the West Virginia accidents, Governor Rendell has unveiled new provisions requiring mines to have an approved escape plan that prompts faster emergency response, requires stockpiled oxygen and safe rooms, and seeks improved communications systems to better track underground miners.