President-elect Donald Trump is vowing support for the mining sector by fast-tracking environmental reviews, creating “clean coal” and turning corners of the Midwest into critical mineral hubs.
“We will turn the Iron Range into a mineral powerhouse like never before,” Trump said during a rally in Minnesota in July.
But Biden administration and union officials say a new rule to help protect the health of miners should be front and center as the nation moves to dig up more critical minerals — and possibly coal — in coming years.
Chris Williamson, the Biden appointee leading the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, defended a recent rule to limit miners’ exposure to dangerous dust, which can lead to incurable and debilitating lung disease, including silicosis, lung cancer and black lung. He also called for full staffing at his agency to enforce the rule.
