Section 4. Mine Families First Program.
(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish the Mine Families First Program as part of the Mine Emergency Response Program to ensure two-way communication between those persons in command of a mine emergency response operation and the families of miners trapped, injured or awaiting rescue.
(b) Mine families first response and communication plan.-- Within 90 days of the effective date of this section, the department shall develop a mine families first response and communication plan to outline the steps that shall be taken by the department and mine owners and operators to communicate with families of miners involved in a mine emergency. The plan shall at a minimum contain the following:
(1) Procedures for the immediate notification of mine
family members in the event of a mine emergency through
individuals previously designated by mine workers.
(2) Designation of and, if necessary, transportation to
a physical location for mine families to gather to obtain
information about the mine emergency and rescue operations.
(3) Security provisions to ensure the privacy of mine
families at the location designated for mine emergency
briefings for families.
(4) Procedures to ensure mine families are briefed
regularly, before the news media, about the progress of the
mine emergency response.
(5) Designation of a mine family first liaison staff for
each incident to serve as a 24-hour point of contact for mine
families to provide a two-way conduit for information about
the mine emergency and rescue operations.
(6) Procedures and a process for involving and
coordinating the participation of not-for-profit and public
social service organizations to provide counseling and other
social services mine families may need during a mine
emergency.
(7) Procedures and a process for notification and, if
needed, transportation of mine families to medical facilities
where miners extricated from mines are given follow-up
medical care.
(c) Public review process.--
(1) The department shall, within 30 days of completing
the initial mine families first response and communication
plan, submit the plan for public review and comment.
(2) After completion of the review and comment period,
the department shall make the necessary revisions to the mine
families first response and communication plan and develop a
final plan for use as part of a mine emergency response
program.