China to halt approvals for small coal mines

 　　BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's safety watchdog said Monday it will no longer approve new coal mines that do not meet production capacity requirements in 2013 in order to ensure work safety.

　　High-gas coal mines with an annual production of less than 300,000 tonnes, as well as coal and gas outburst mines with an annual production of less than 450,000 tonnes, will not be approved, the State Administration of Work Safety said.

　　Last month, the administration put rules into effect that hold coal mine managers accountable for protecting their workers' lives. Managers are required to have proper operation licenses¹ and provide better ventilation.

　　In 2012, 1,384 people were killed in coal mine accidents, declining² from 1,973 in 2011. Most of the accidents occurred in small coal mines.

1 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

2 declining   

adj.下降的，衰落的

参考例句：

• The nub of the matter is that business is declining. 事情的实质是工商业在萎缩。
• It is encouraging to read that illiteracy is declining. 从读报中了解文盲情况正在好转，这是令人鼓舞的。