DescriptionThe Centralia Coal Company was owned by the Bell & Zoller Coal & Mining Company. Herbert E. Bell was the president and William P. Young was the vice president. Illinois ranks third in coal production. At the time four agencies had authority over coal mining; the state of Illinois, the United States government, the Centralia Coal Company, and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The explosion in Centralia n. 5 occurred on March 25, 1947. Beginning with his appointment in 1941, State Mines Inspector Driscoll O. Scanlan sent inspection reports to Department of Mines and Minerals (DMM) Director Robert M. Medill. The US Bureau of Mines inspected Centralia n. 5 for the first time in September 1942. The findings and recommendations were the same in all reports. Scanlan has requested maintenance related to security issues. The U.S. Bureau of Mines report supported his findings. In all this time nothing was done. Diagnostic Inspector Scanlan sent reports every three months from 1942 to 1944 repeating recommendations and adding new ones. He considered Centralia no. 5 the worst mine in his district. Coal dust and gas pose an explosion hazard. You can take steps to minimize these concerns. Rock dusting is one method used to locate an explosion. Illinois law requires rock dusting in a very dusty mine. Mr Scanlan was the front line for the miners. He had the authority to close the mine and he didn't. He later mentioned the fear of losing his job. It was his responsibility as a public administrator to act. As part of his campaign for governor, Dwight Green promised to enforce mining laws. In 1941 Governor Green appointed Robert Medill director of the Department of Mines and Minerals. The Mining Board draws up the p...... half of paper ...... full report. Before this happened, the mine exploded. Ultimately, the news that spread focused on union campaign contributions and not on mine safety. All layers of protection for the miners failed. Each agency entrusted with their safety had other concerns as priorities. Mr. Scanlan has filed true and honest reports of violations over a long period of time, but has never gone that extra step to enforce the law. State authorities should have acted when the first reports were drawn up. Union membership was in jeopardy, yet the Union never represented Local 52 or gave it support when it tried to get state assistance for their grievances. Elected officials and coal companies motivated by politics and profit. Works CitedStillman, R.J., (2010), Public Administration Concepts and Cases, Boston, Wadsworth Cengage Learning.