“As of this moment, we are right on schedule,” Mutmansky said of the group’s work. Having already met in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City to discuss belt flammability and fires, and rock mechanics issues such as convergence and bumps, Alabama will play host to the next meeting later this month.

Mutmansky said the panel will meet in Birmingham June 19–21 to address atmospheric monitoring systems, hear from a panel of UMWA members and listen to public input.

Mutmansky said that the industry’s “total cooperation” thus far in the process had made things much better for the committee, which also includes Dr Jurgen Brune (NIOSH), Dr Felipe Calizaya (University of Utah), Dr Jerry Tien (University of Missouri-Rolla), Thomas Mucho (Thomas P Mucho & Associates) and Dr James Weeks (Evergreen Consulting).

“I would think it’s fair to say that we’ve all learned quite a bit at each of our sessions,” Mutmansky said.

“The experts we’ve heard have been quite helpful and willing to answer nearly any question we’ve brought forward.”

He also said the group could not yet make speculations about regulations, recommendations or any other statements related to their studies – because to date, they have held off on any discussions with one another until all of the scheduled meetings have convened.

“We’ve decided that we will begin our deliberations [as subcommittees] only after the final meeting in Birmingham so that we do not make judgements until all of the experts and all interested parties have been heard,” Mutmansky noted.

“The subcommittees are currently formed, and are expected to present their findings to the entire panel at our August meeting.

“At that meeting, currently scheduled for August 28 through August 30, all discussions in favour of the individual recommendations and in opposition to the recommendations will be heard in public. The panel will then vote on each recommendation of the subcommittees individually,” he said, adding that the location of that final meeting has not yet been determined.

While case studies of particular occurrences at specific operations will likely not play a part in the committee’s report, it is “probable” that specific situations or systems will be included as part of its recommendations, Mutmansky said, or to potentially help “convince the panel that a recommendation is not as meritorious as suggested”

He said the level of helpfulness from other areas of the industry in terms of feedback and suggestion has been good and “very helpful in our quest to gain the necessary knowledge to make intelligent technical decisions”. However, he said the panel is interested in hearing from the United Mine Workers of America and from representatives for atmospheric monitoring – expected to be attending the Birmingham meeting.

Their progress to date, Mutmansky said, would not be the same without that feedback and input from others.

“I would like to thank all persons who contributed to our meetings so far for their cooperation and for their help,” he said.