3 Killed, 6 Hurt In New Coal Mine Collapse

(CBS/AP)  The search for six miners missing deep underground was abruptly halted after a second cave-in killed three rescue workers and injured at least six others who were trying to tunnel through rubble to reach them.

It was a devastating turn for the families of the six men trapped in the Aug. 6 collapse at the Crandall Canyon mine and for the relatives of those trying to rescue them. It's not known if the six are alive.

All rescue workers were evacuated from the mine Thursday evening and work underground was stopped. Asked if the search would be suspended, "that's something to be determined," said Rich Kulczewski, a U.S. Department of Labor spokesman.

The cave-in at 6:39 p.m. was caused by a mountain bump in which pressure can force chunks of coal from walls of the mine with great force. Seismologists say such a bump caused the Aug. 6 cave-in that trapped the six men more than 3 miles inside the central Utah mine. That led to the frenetic effort by rescuers to dig through the mine toward the men and drill narrow holes atop the mountain in an attempt to learn their whereabouts and perhaps drop down food and water.

It was not immediately clear where the rescuers were working or what they were doing when Thursday's bump occurred.

Underground, rescuers had advanced only 826 feet in nine days. Before Thursday's cave-in, workers still had about 1,200 feet to go to reach the area where they believe the trapped men had been working.

Mining officials said conditions in the mine were treacherous, and they were frequently forced to halt digging because of seismic activity.

A day after the initial collapse, the rescuers were pushed back 300 feet when a bump shook the mountain and filled the tunnel with rubble.

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[radioceleb99]

How did Murray get a permit to mine Crandall Canyon Mine in the first place? ...Did money and access to powerful public officials cause regulators to turn a blind eye to the risks involved?....FOLLOW THE MONEY A great place to start is with the FEC reports. The link is: http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml Enter: MURRAY, ROBERT His contributions sometimes include his middle intial (and or) Murrary Energy but many don''t. There are thousands and thousands of dollars in contributions listed for MURRAY, ROBERT in BEACHWOOD, OH 44122

[radioceleb99]

FEC records show that Mr Murray''s partner MOORE, ROBERT BELMONT, OH 43718 Co Owner of Murray Energy Corp has also made thousands and thousands of dollars in contributions.Did those contributions influence regulators when they made the decision to issue the mining permit Ask yourself; how did Murray Energy get a permit to mine Crandall Canyon Mine in the first place?....FOLLOW THE MONEY A great place to start is with the FEC reports. The link is: http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norinds Enter:MOORE, ROBERTBELMONT, OH 43718

[radioceleb99]

How much power, political influence, or money did it take to have a coal insider put in charge of the Mine Safety and Health Administration?

Mr. Stickler is a longtime coal executive with extensive connections with the coal industry.

According to the Charleston Gazette, Stickler''s mines had accident rates of twice the national average.

The current administration tried repeatedly to get Stickler nominated for the position unsuccessfully.

In July 2006, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao hired Stickler as a consultant and adviser, but insisted through a spokeswoman that she was not attempting to circumvent the nomination process.

In October 2006, Bush used a recess appointment to install Stickler -- a decision that was quickly denounced by senators from both sides of the aisle.

[jetranger7]

These Corporate Idiots treat Miners aparently about like Truck Drivers, with little respect and wreckless disreguard for saftey and hours worked, as per saftey ! There should have been some device installed down there in that mine which would of held food and water for a few weeks, not to mention some sort of Tracking device to pin point Miners that deep in the ground. I mean we have seismagraphs to detect movement of the earth we can track satellites and the Space Shuttle, and Fire fighters have beepers on their bodys when entering a fire, but these miners have nothing, guess it might interfere with the CEOs Big Huge mansion and his Vacation Homes and Yacht, if they had to spend money for actaul Saftey items for their employees they put in Danger to make them Wealthy !!!!!!

[nothappyatall]

There''s NO free lunch, even manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines takes ENERGY to make the steel, oil to make plastics, glass, wiring etc and each solar panel only puts out DC current in small amounts like your flashlight batteries.

There is no industry that is completely safe, accidents happen in every industry and trade, you only hear so much about these 6 miners because the media has been milking it for over 12 days now for everything it''s worth.
Workers fall off power plant towers, radio antennas, die in storage tanks while cleaning them and even get killed working on the city sewers and gas lines.
Every year there are natural gas leaks that cause explosions which either kill workers or level entire houses;

Propane and natural gas explosions often cause serious personal injury and death;
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Gas explosions frequently occur in situations where people in close proximity to the explosion did not smell the characteristic odor of natural gas prior to ...
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Propane Gas Explosions: - Though, propane gas is used at lesser homes than Natural gas, yet it accounts for almost same number of accidents every year in ...
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[nothappyatall]

"Coal mining and coal combustion in North America and throughout the world should end as soon as possible."

Oh? and replace 1,026 MILLION TONS used a year with what exactly? oil? we are slaves to Saudi Arabia there as it is, natural gas? we have to IMPORT that via container ships as it is now just to keep up with the increased demand.
Solar and wind? puhlease!!! get real you cant run a multi mega watt power plant, trains, buses, trucks, heavy equipment etc off solar panels.

Outfit your home with solar panels? that''s doable, you can cover your entire roof with them to generate all the power you need on SUNNY days, IF you don''t mind the $50,000 up front costs, IF you don''t mind having to tend to them, test, add water and replace large golf-car type lead-acid batteries you have to store and vent the explosive hydrogen fumes from, IF you don''t mind replacing appliances and changing your lifestyle.



No corporate entity has the right to put human beings in so terrible a predicament as being 1,500 feet below the ground in a mountain that is honeycombed with mine shafts. That is an invitation for disaster and will continue to be so until coal mining ends.

[scarletphd]

This mine "owner" needs to shut the he11 UP, LIAR! The miners are DEAD!! He has been feeding the families and friends false hope since the moment this dangerous mine collapsed, diverting blame, being in denial - next the RESCUERS will start dying, but he''ll keep claiming certain victory. SHAME on you, you sick liar, you greedy ba$****. Let the lawsuits begin!!!
Posted by ScarletPhD at 06:39 PM : Aug 16, 2007

TOLD you...WHERE is that bragging arrogant GREEDY motherfu(ker NOW???

[omegaron]

The coal mine disaster in Utah should serve as a wake up call.

Coal mining and coal combustion in North America and throughout the world should end as soon as possible.

No corporate entity has the right to put human beings in so terrible a predicament as being 1,500 feet below the ground in a mountain that is honeycombed with mine shafts. That is an invitation for disaster and will continue to be so until coal mining ends.

Every major city in America sits in a pall of choking cardiovascular system damaging coal smoke from some coal-fired steam plant nearby.

Coal is destroying lives at every level and in every way. Coal combustion is a destroyer.

Another source of energy must be found and should be found as a memorial to all of the innocent men who have died in the dank darkness of a collapsed and airless coal mine while mine owners sat in their mansions on the hill without a speck of coal dust under their fingernails or in their lungs.

D. Grant Haynes
[e-mail]

[Dublecros]

oakishpines.......You REALLY need to give up the pipe!!! It''s obvious it has taken over your life. Give it up girl/boy, before it kills you!!

[jydavis1]

this tragic event once again demonstates the need for green energy .!