In closing, though the communities where the mines and plants operate are benefiting from the energy produced, and from good wage jobs, the communities are not comfortable with the overall effect of coal mining. In order to achieve sustainable development, the government must be committed in protecting the life, health and properties of all the people affected by mining of coal. The dangers of mining for the workers and the pollution of the environment are the main concerns. In order for coal mining to be sustainable, the people and the planet need to be protected. The profit is already occurring, but many of the beneficiaries of the income are stock holders such as those of Massey Energy (MEE on NYSE). Those who hold the stock many times are not directly involved in those communities where the mining takes place, many times the shareholders and not the stakeholders. Federal regulators of the Mine, Health, and Safety Administration are doing there their job of inspecting and fining the mine companies, but their hands are tied to actually shut down a mine. Without this authority there is little incentive for mine companies to completely comply with safety codes, for relative inexpensive fines are not a deterrent. Though the economic dimension can be said to be achieved through production, availability and supply of power alone cannot support sustainable development. Therefore the government needs to completely review and address regulations on safety of coal miners and shut down mines where continuous violations occur in order for the use of coal to achieve sustainable development. In the U.S., The 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act is outdated and needs to be amended to allow regulators to shut down incompliant mines.
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