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Former National Mine Health and Safety Academy Director Jack Spadaro opposes Senate Bill S.3512, claiming that relying on independent engineers employed by operators—rather than strict federal regulations—creates a dangerous risk of dam failure. He cites historical disasters in Buffalo Creek and Martin County to illustrate the failure of inadequate oversight and notes an EPA study finding 25% of over 400 coal ash dams are in 'poor' condition without legal requirements for owners to remedy deficiencies.

The report argues that coal is the 'dirtiest of all fuels' and that its entire lifecycle—mining, preparation, transport, combustion, and waste disposal—causes extensive damage to human health and ecosystems. It highlights the failure of regulatory enforcement and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.

The document details how political appointees in the early 2000s allegedly pressured MSHA investigators to prematurely end an investigation into a 300-million-gallon toxic sludge spill in Kentucky, resulting in fewer citations and lower fines for the Martin County Coal Corporation. It highlights the testimony of whistleblower Jack Spadaro, who claimed retaliation for exposing this interference. Additionally, the text describes a broader policy shift under the Bush administration to restrict the public release of mine inspection reports, which critics argue undermined accountability and contributed to a spike in mining deaths in 2005 and 2006.