Story highlights West Virginia legislator wants to strip state investigators of their ability to conduct inspections

West Virginia led the nation in mining fatalities last year and has seen two deaths this year

(CNN) A state senator in West Virginia wants to eliminate enforcement of state mining regulations, a move union officials say could set back miners' safety by decades.

Senate Bill 582 was introduced on Saturday by State Sen. Randy Smith. He proposes favoring federal standards over state standards on issues like mine ventilation, fire protection and accident investigations.

The legislation would strip state investigators of their ability to conduct inspections, instead tasking them with "compliance visits and education." If a safety violation is discovered, investigators would issue "compliance assistance visit notices," instead of citations or fines.

West Virginia led the nation in mining fatalities last year, with four deaths, and has seen two deaths this year, according to the US Department of Labor Mine Safety & Health Administration

The Senate bill also eliminates the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, the Coal Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee, the Mine Inspectors' Examining Board, and the Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification. Regulators are stripped of their power to establish rules, but would be able to "study and adopt policies on improvements to the health and safety of the state's miners."

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