((a)) ** In general** No person shall bring an action against any covered individual or his or her regular employer for property damage or an injury (or death) sustained as a result of carrying out activities relating to mine accident rescue or recovery operations. This subsection shall not apply where the action that is alleged to result in the property damages or injury (or death) was the result of gross negligence, reckless conduct, or illegal conduct or, where the regular employer (as such term is used in this chapter) is the operator of the mine at which the rescue activity takes place. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt State workers’ compensation laws.

((b)) ** Covered individual** For purposes of subsection (a), the term “covered individual” means an individual—

((1)) who is a member of a mine rescue team or who is otherwise a volunteer with respect to a mine accident; and

((2)) who is carrying out activities relating to mine accident rescue or recovery operations.

((c)) ** Regular employer** For purposes of subsection (a), the term “regular employer” means the entity that is the covered employee’s legal or statutory employer pursuant to applicable State law.