West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia SB1042: Relating to ventilation of underground mines
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend and reenact §22A-2-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to ventilation of underground mines; providing that in areas where coal is being cut, mined, drilled for blasting, or loaded, these areas are to be ventilated with a minimum quantity of 3,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Article 2. Underground Mines. §22A-2-4. Ventilation of mines in general. (a) The operator or mine foreman of every coal mine, whether worked by shaft, slope, or drift, shall provide and maintain adequate ventilation for each mine. In all mines the quantity of air passing through the.
From the enrolled text, March 11, 2026:
AN ACT to amend and reenact §22A-2-4 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to ventilation of underground mines; providing that in areas where coal is being cut, mined, drilled for blasting, or loaded, these areas are to be ventilated with a minimum quantity of 3,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Article 2. Underground Mines. §22A-2-4. Ventilation of mines in general. (a) The operator or mine foreman of every coal mine, whether worked by shaft, slope, or drift, shall provide and maintain adequate ventilation for each mine. In all mines the quantity of air passing through the last open crosscut between the intake and return in any pair or set of entries may not be less than 9,000 cubic feet of air per minute and as much more as is necessary to dilute and render harmless and carry away flammable and harmful gases. All working faces in a working section between the intake and return airway entries where coal is being cut, mined, drilled for blasting, or loaded shall be ventilated with a minimum quantity of 3,000 cubic feet of air per minute and as much more as is necessary to dilute and render harmless and carry away flammable and harmful gases. The quantity of air reaching the last crosscut in pillar sections may be less …
Sponsors
- Rose, Chris (R, 02) · primary sponsor