News Darkens for Trapped Miners in Utah

The facility has a history of problems, which include 325 citations issued by mine inspectors since the beginning of 2004. 116 of those were considered "Significant and Substantial" by federal standards.

(HUNTINGTON, Utah) - Heavy machinery has been brought in to the site of a collapsed coal mine in Utah where six miners are trapped. Rescuers are hoping that the equipment can help them reach the trapped men 1,500 feet below the surface of the earth.

A representative of the Murray Energy Corp. of Cleveland says they do know where the men are. It was not clear though if they have adequate breathing equipment, lights and emergency food supplies.

The mine is built into a mountain in the rugged Manti-La Sal National Forest, 140 miles south of Salt Lake City, in a sparsely populated area.

Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon was quoted by the AP saying that, "Past experience tells us these things don't go very well." Her husband is a former miner.

Complicating problems is the fact that many of the miners do not speak English. The families of the men are gathered at a community center in Huntington to await word of their fate.

There has been some additional speculation from the University of Utah as to the origin of the 4.0 magnitude event that was recorded around 4:00 AM Monday; Relu Burlacu who heads the Seismograph Network at the University of Utah's Seismology Department, told Salem-News.com Monday that the collapse could just have likely caused the earthquake.

Robert E. Murray, chairman of Murray Energy Corp., says it was the other way around, and the blast was not the cause of the quake, but the result of it. The debate became heated Monday as searchers inched their way through rock walls in an effort to locate the trapped miners. By the end of the afternoon the university admitted it was possible that the blast could have resulted from an earthquake.

The Crandall Canyon mine near Huntington, Utah is about 140 miles south of Salt Lake City, in the Manti-La Sal National Forest in a sparsely populated area, in a narrow for trucks and other vehicles to drive inside and transport miners throughout the various work areas.

The facility has a history and what could only be described as a pattern of problems, which include 325 citations issued by mine inspectors since the beginning of 2004. 116 of those violations were considered "Significant and Substantial" by federal standards.

Inspectors were clear that "at least two separate and distinct travelable passageways shall be designated as escapeways," yet at this hour the rescue crews work with the understanding that no one knows the actual location of the missing miners, or whether or not they survived the cave in.

The federal government is pro mining, and short of that there is no explanation for why such a dangerous operation has been allowed the ability to continue operation without meeting standards imposed by the citations.

The mine is in the second biggest county for coal production in Utah, a state that ranks 12th in the nation as a coal producer. Yet the fines levied against Murray has barely exceeded $150,000.

Gov. Jon Huntsman left a wildfire forum in Boise, Idaho, to return to Utah and the scene of the collapsed mine.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families," he told reporters and others present.

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DJM August 8, 2007 3:47 pm (Pacific time)

Tim, you talk about electrical power from hydroelectric plants, as I am sure you well know to produce any amount of this type of power a large reservoirs of water is needed...do you have any idea when the last large dam was built in this country? Do you think that the environmentalists in this country would ever allow another one, heck no. Nuclear energy, are you kidding me? You and I both know that is not going to happen. Solar energy, heck I am all for it but can you really comprehend how much solar energy would be needed to replace coal? The technology will have to improve 100 fold before we even get close that is unless you are willing to pay thousands of dollars a month for your electric bill. And just to reiterate, if you listen to the experts, the federal official from MSHA Mr. Al Davis, who by the way work in the same coal mine here in Colorado that I did, he stated that this coal mine is about average as far as safety violations. He said flat out it is not an overly dangerous mine like you stated in your story. Tim, that was your opinion not the opinion of the experts. This country averages 5 deaths in coal mines per year, China averages 5000 deaths per year and that is just what they report. More miners are killed in car accidents per year then in the coal mines. By your way of thinking, we should outlaw the automobile but we can’t because of King George and his pro energy policies. Finally, you make it sound like these miners were forced to go down there everyday. Talk to the miners Tim and I am sure you will find some that have problems with the company, but the majority of them will tell you they know the risks and they would not dream of doing anything different. These men are some of the hardest workers in the world and they love what they do. By the way, the last time I checked people in America were able to move from job to job. King George has not made that a crime yet has he????

Henry Ruark August 7, 2007 4:29 pm (Pacific time)

Despite understandable emotion from miner-DJM, story is straight with detailed judgments made by same qualified miner-colleagues: the inspectors. It reflects wellknown wide conditions in far the greatest majority of mines ever worked in this nation -justifying details from sources on request, compiled from previous stories. SO charge this one up to corporate considerations, too, and wtch TV-news for further revealing details proving up Tim's major points.

Tim King August 7, 2007 4:27 pm (Pacific time)

DJM, do your own research. I am not a pompous ass, I spent last winter in the war in Afghanistan covering U.S. troops and none of the stories would you accurately construe as left wing. Rich? Do you honestly think that I am wealthy just because I report for a living? Most people that do what I do work real hard and they go into situations that most people never enter.

Take it easy man, and quit using this as a name calling forum. I could give a rip about that and it doesn't matter that it is directed toward me, that is not the point. People need to be civil around here.

Did I interject my opinion? You bet I did, because most Americans are sick of what is going on in this country in recent years, and Bush's deregulation of different industries does not help the common man.

Ever heard of hydroelectric power? Here's one: how about solar power? Then the nuclear facilities are up and running too.

I know you are well intentioned, just remember that we are Americans and your RIGHT and LEFT means little to many of my friends and brothers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush is pro mining, that is a fact. Today's reporting is not always going to meet your specs.

DJM August 7, 2007 4:09 pm (Pacific time)

Hey boys, I worked in a mine, I know the facts. Second Jay, how in the hell do you think the majority of electricity in America is produced...by coal Einstein. In fact, over 50% of the electricity produced in this nation is produced by what you call dirt. Before you mouth off you should do a little research. Second, my statement was correct, this reporter did not report he gave his opinion...reporters report the news; commentators write commentaries about the news. The fact is Jay, and Timmy, you don't have any clue of what you are talking about and you are a slave to the media because you refuse to educate yourselves with facts. Sorry boys, you are out in left field on this one. Do some research and get back to me...dark ages, what a moron! Finally Timmy, I have more in common with those miners then you will ever have you rich poppas jackass. I have worked for a living, I am sure if you got a blister from working you would need to take a vacation...Don't tell me what I feel for those people I lost 15 co-workers in a Colorado mine on 03/15/1981....Don't you dare tell me about how I feel you $%(*&^!

Sue August 7, 2007 11:29 am (Pacific time)

You go Tim King! You are so CORRECT! Thanks for your reporting.

Jay August 7, 2007 11:12 am (Pacific time)

Wow DJM, you're really living under a rock if you think ANYBODY besides the communities depending on the economy give a RIP about mining. This isn't the dark ages, we KNOW the skinny these days. Coal is dirty, and the working conditions have always been questionable, and the only job these guys could get has ruined thousands of well-meaning workers' health. Is there confusion about that? Lots of statistics will back it up. Do you even have a heart? The people are ALL that's important, not your damn lobbying for the coal industry!!! But hey, as long as no one is to blame. Keep rubbing your gold coin for luck.

Tim King August 7, 2007 10:32 am (Pacific time)

The mine in this story had been cited 325 times for safety violations, 355 TIMES!! Please don't believe the babble of the blowhard (below), he is full of it and obviously only worried about a "left wing" point of view, (you know, because I think they are bad for so many safety issues) That safety thing is obviously a left wing plot, eh DJM?

So to clarify; the Bush administration is all about mining and oil and big business. They had the opportunity to run a responsible government and yet they blew it. Now one thing after another is going to come tumbling down on our heads. I also note that ol' DJM didn't leave a word of sorrow for the miners, you can plainly read that he is not concerned about them at all. Stay tuned DJM, we have many more stories heading your way that you obviously will consider to be liberal plots. Thanks for sticking up for the mining company.

DJM August 7, 2007 10:20 am (Pacific time)

The reporter obviously has never worked in a coal mine and has not been listening to the inspectors when he states his opinion with this blatantly biased comment, "The federal government is pro mining, and short of that there is no explanation for why such a dangerous operation has been allowed the ability to continue operation without meeting standards imposed by the citations." If you had your facts straight Timmy boy you would know that this mine is about average for the United States when it comes to safety. A great deal of the safety in the mines is dependent on the natural conditions in the mine such as the amount of gas, the amount of cover over the coal seems and other such issues. You are a left wing reporter that put his own spin on the news...surprise, surprise!!!!

Henry Ruark August 7, 2007 8:07 am (Pacific time)

Job safety costs dollars, is often neglected or avoided in situations like this where the miners have little power to see to their own protection since little choice of job, and nowadays very little union help, either. Who do you suppose has the clout at both state and U.S. regulatory levels ? How do you think that clout is maintained over decades ? Thanks for your questioning in this one, Tim...more people need to know-and-think about causes in a democracy for any such threatening situation as documented by the regulatory record cited by you in story. "Tell it true, and it can liberate you and yours" is old jrnlsm principle too much neglected these days.

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News Darkens for Trapped Miners in Utah

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