Mine Safety and Compliance Efforts Coming to the Pacific

This week, I met with Chief of Staff Julie Ann Schmidt, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jim McHugh, and Senior Labor Policy Advisor Beverly McKittrick from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), which operates under the U.S. Department of Labor, to discuss safety concerns for the Pacific Territories, including American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI. In 2024, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General raised concerns about oversight and required inspections in the Pacific territories. In response, MSHA is working to strengthen compliance assistance and improve mine safety across the region. The team plans to visit the CNMI later this year to provide support and prepare for enforcement efforts set to begin by October 2026. Mining and quarrying support important infrastructure and development in the Marianas, but ensuring safe and healthy working conditions is just as critical. I appreciated MSHA’s time and their commitment to visit the CNMI and talk about their mandate with our community.