According to the Associated Press, proposed federal rules that would allow the continued use of belt air go against the union’s longstanding opinion on the practice.

In fact, the UMWA suggested it be banned when it spoke before the US Mine Safety and Health Administration in Charleston, one of four locations of hearings being held this month to collect comment on the proposal.

“I just can't believe that we're sitting here today discussing putting belt air on the face of coal mines,'' union member George Hill said in a public statement at the gathering.

“Coal miners are going to lose their lives.''

The UMWA maintains that if the practice is given approval for use under federal law that safety improvements must be made, including its approval by top MSHA staff and not regional management. It also urged flame-resistant belt and carbon monoxide detector requirements for mines rather than fire alarms that sense heat, the AP noted.

MSHA Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances director Patricia Silvey told the news service that the proposed regulations were parallel with a belt air report issued last December that supported the continued use of belt air along with fire detection and prevention methods and products.

“One of the things we tried to do in the proposal was to look not just at the recommendations,'' she said, adding that the agency also closely reviewed the panel’s intent.

The Charleston hearing was the third of four events being held across the US to collect comment. The Salt Lake City, Utah and Lexington, Kentucky meetings have adjourned, and MSHA will be in Birmingham, Alabama for the final public gathering later this week.

The agency will continue to accept comment from the industry on the issue until September 8.