After sending notes of protest, MSHA did open the “stakeholder” meeting this morning to the press on clarifications the agency wishes to make on fall protection for metal/metal mines.

We were not informed of the meeting ahead of time, as promised in the past, but found out about it a day in advance through a subscriber.

In attendance at the meeting were the major mining associations. While we appreciate MSHA’s openness with the associations, “stakeholders” include those not affiliated with the Washington insiders, including the credentialed press who wish to attend, and we will continue to hold the agency’s proverbial “feet to the fire” on this issue of openness.

Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m. at MSHA headquarters in Arlington, Va., there is planned a closed “stakeholders meeting.” Yes closed. Invitation only. Your government at work. We oppose closed meetings. The alleged reasoning is always that there cannot be an open dialog with the press in attendence. Huh? Doesn’t seem to affect the comments and roundtable discussions at joint MSHA/industry conferences — especially the one I just attended in Austin, Texas.

We cannot have closed government. We cannot have deals, wheeling and dealing with the winks and nods that go along with these closed door meetings.

Joe Main: Open these meetings. Forbid closed stakeholder meetings, and bring the sunshine back to MSHA that we once knew before 2001.