Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration

The Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) under the U.S. Department of the Interior was the predecessor of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, prior to March 9, 1978.
History.
Through an administrative action in 1973, the United States Secretary of the Interior created the MESA as an agency within the Department of the Interior. Because of concern about the apparent conflict of interest between the health and safety enforcement functions of the United States Bureau of Mines (BOM) and its production-focused oversight of mineral resources, BOM's safety operations and health enforcement responsibilities were split off to MESA's charge until MSHA's establishment in 1978.