On May, 8, 2009, the Oregon Independent Aggregate Association sent an important letter to MSHA and other interested parties. A dialogue has been opened between MSHA officials and OIAA over the past few weeks. Following is an excerpt of the portion outlining the association's initial objectives.

If you feel that OIAA's work is important, and that your company would like to be a part of what is going on, you are invited to join us. Please call Genoa Ingram, Executive Director, at: 503-378-0595. There is a link on the sidebar to OIAA's website for further information. If you do not live in Oregon and would like help forming your own association, Genoa can offer you suggestions. I think it is important for each state to have an independent aggregate association, and for all the associations in each district to touch base with each other on a regular basis.

~ Kathy


"OIAA has identified the following to be the association's initial objectives:

1. Measures to make certain that the mandatory requirements for operators are uniformily known by both the operators and by the inspectors that are charged with issuing citations rather than determining requirements in an adversarial process.

2. Provide assistance and communication among aggregate producers to educate the members on requirements and appropriate actions that should be taken. OIAA believes it reasonable to expect that an effective educational process can address all of the mandatory requirements for safety and health compliance.

3. Properly inspected operations, with reasonable trained operators, where few, if any citations and minimal penalties are required to meet the mandated safety and health requirements is to become the appropriate measure to determine if MSHA has compiled with its legislative and regulatory mandate.

4. Work with MSHA to articulate and to provide information to operators and miners of the particular measures that are to able to be implemented and maintained for the necessary compliance with the mandatory safety and health requirements as specified in the Mine Act and the Code of Federal Regulations.

5. OIAA will be seeking administrative and regulatory changes, or legislation, which will result in clarification of these mandatory safety and health requirements in place of the discretionary judgement of individual inspectors and managers."