McAteer was appointed to the position of assistant secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration from 1993 to 2000 under President Bill Clinton.
This Act led to the creation of MSHA and also provided compensation to miners completely disabled by black lung disease.
[2] During his term as the Assistant Secretary McAteer played a major role in the administration of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
Specifically, he implemented the review and improvement of a system where exposure to coal mine dust was calculated using the average of multiple samples.
[5] McAteer's publications include “Miner’s Manual: A Complete Guide to Health and Safety Protection on the Job,” which has sold more than 25,000 copies.
[1] McAteer has also directed and produced a documentary, Monongah 1907, and has written an in-depth historical examination and account of the same mining disaster.