SPRINGFIELD -A sweeping set of mine safety reforms will be signed into law today by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The reforms require the coal industry to upgrade safety equipment in Illinois' 18 underground mines including air tanks for miners and wireless tracking devices.

"As the Illinois coal industry continues to grow, it is our responsibility to ensure that the men and women who put their lives on the line to harness this important energy source are as safe as possible," Blagojevich said in a prepared statement.

The increased safety regulations came after 12 miners were killed in a West Virginia mining accident earlier this year. Illinois produces an estimated 32 million tons of coal a year and employees about 3,500 people.

"Historically, disasters in the coal fields have led to improvement in mine safety," said Joe Angleton, director of the state Office of Mines and Minerals. "It makes us all set back, reflect and look at what we can do better."

Illinois coal miners will be required to carry oxygen tanks containing one hour of air. The reforms also call for stockpiles of air tanks to be placed every 4,000 feet through out the mine and for workers to have access to rescue chambers.

The Illinois Coal Association remains critical of the new regulations requiring oxygen stockpiles and rescue chambers be in place as of Jan. 31. 2007.

"Each of our mines is different and they ought to be able to customize their safety plan to fit their mine," said Phillip Gonet, the association's president.

The association also argues that rescue chambers are counter to a miner's training.

"Miners are trained, if there is an emergency, to evacuate as quickly as possible," Gonet said. "Rescue teams can't get underground right away to find miners that are trapped. So we try to get miners out of there and keep them from getting trapped."

The group plans to challenge this portion of the law during the November legislative session.

The new law also requires mines string up life lines for people to follow during an escape. Miners will also be given taglines, which allow a group to tether themselves together and reduce chances of workers getting separated.

Workers must also have access to a vehicle large enough to transport all the people in a particular section of a mine. The state will also create the Mine Technology Task Force to review equipment such as wireless tracking devices for finding trapped miners.

"With the tracking devices, the technology -in my opinion-is not there yet to do real time tracking," Angleton said.

Once assembled, the task force will be making equipment recommendations to the state mining board in 90 days. Mine operators will also be required to submit safety plans to state regulators for approval.

Under the new law, all four of the state's mine rescue teams will be federally certified. Currently, only two of the teams meet these requirements. It will take six months to bring the uncertified teams online, Angleton said.

The state will also be creating certification standards for independent contractors and surface supervisors.

Illinois coal mines have gone three years without a fatality.

matt.adrian@lee.net