I emailed Mr Thomas too. This was my email:
"Good morning Mr Thomas. I have been a follower of the Miner Act since its inception back in 2006. I've followed it intently since then as I had a grandfather who died in a coal mine in Canada when I was 11 years old. I have also been following it as an investment in a company who has a vested interest in the Miner Act.
My question is that since the June 15, 2009 deadline, there have been no apparent purchases of equipment that would improve safety of the mines as it relates to the Miner Act. I know MSHA guidance indicated that it would take 4-6 months to work through all of the ERPs. I've read all of the publications and guides on your site, but cannot figure out why none of the companies with Miner Act-required equipment(Communications & Tracking specifically) have had any orders for their systems.
Is there a firm deadline for the mine operators to have these systems on order/purchased/installed? I've read the most recent update to the Compliance Guide for Jan06/2010 and it seems pretty clear what you expect from the operators. Is there anywhere that I can follow the "flow of compliance" - for lack of a better phrase - of the mine operators for their ERPs? I have heard that in January approximately half of the mines had their ERPs approved, but no indication that they have since purchased any equipment that would have been included in their ERP.
As I said, I started following this as a personal interest and have since added a financial interest in the story. So my query about why no C&T companies with approved systems have been able to garner any purchase orders from mine operators is for both purposes. I feel the pain of those who have lost loved ones in mine accidents and my mother tells me of the concern she had for her father every day he went into the mine for his day's work.
Any information you are able to provide would be greatly appreciated."
