By a vote of 52-46, the U.S. Senate confirmed David Zatezalo’s nomination to be the next assistant secretary of labor for the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA), reports The Weirton Daily Times.
Zatezalo, a West Virginia native, expects to be sworn into the position shortly after Thanksgiving, The Weirton Daily Times adds.
According to The Weirton Daily Times, Zatezalo began his 41-year mining career as an underground general laborer at the Blacksville 2 mine in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He attended West Virginia University and obtained a degree in mining engineering.
Zatezalo told the Senate committee that he operated 39 different mines in America and Australia during his career. Zatezalo believes Australia and South Africa are today at the forefront of mine safety technology, The Weirton Daily Times adds.
“Our last two initiatives have come from those countries, but I really think the U.S. should be the leader,” says Zatezalo, a former coal executive at Rhino Resources. “But I am anxious to see what can get done. At the end of the day, I think I can take what I can and make things better.”
