Utah Miner Families Blame Government

Federal Agency, Mine Owner To Blame For Deaths At Utah Mine Collapse, Relatives Say

(AP)  Surrounded by family photos, relatives of the nine victims of Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine collapse told lawmakers Wednesday they blame the government and mine owners for the fatal cave-in.

Several of the miners had seen signs of trouble before the Aug. 6 accident but feared retribution if they complained, family members told a House committee.

After the cave-in, they said, they struggled to get information about rescue efforts from co-owner Bob Murray and the government's Mine Safety and Health Administration. By law, that agency is supposed to control communications with the families.

Six miners trapped during the initial cave-in are presumed dead, entombed 1,500 feet below ground. Three rescuers were killed in a second collapse Aug. 16.

"We want the truth of what happened," said Cesar Sanchez, whose brother, Manuel, died in the mine. "I feel like this is not being investigated at all."

The hearing before the House Education and Labor Committee was the second this week as lawmakers consider new mine safety laws.

Unlike Tuesday's Senate hearing, which focused on the government's oversight of the mine, the House hearing focused on the families' concerns.

Lawmakers listened intently. The only background noise came from the sobs of 5-year-old Gage Phillips, whose father, Brandon, was a victim. Their eyes followed Gage as he scrambled out of the audience and into the arms of his grandmother, Sheila Phillips, at the witness table.

"It is hard to have hope, only to have your heart broke everyday," Sheila Phillips told the committee. "It is hard to see your grandson left fatherless."

Family members were particularly critical of federal agency.

During the rescue, the agency's chief, Richard Stickler, regularly was upstaged at news conferences by the blustering Murray, who often contradicted the government's explanation of the collapse.

Family members reported that Murray yelled at them and was defensive and threatening in their meetings. They said the agency should have prevented that.

Agency officials held a conference call with reporters Wednesday afternoon to defend themselves.

Stickler said he could not keep Murray from speaking and could not control Murray's behavior off mine property. Stickler did have a local sheriff keep Murray away from the families after one confrontation.

"I would welcome any legislation that would improve what we can do," Stickler told reporters. "My goal was to treat the family members like I would want my family to be treated. That's what I tried to do."

The Crandall Canyon accident came a year after several high-profile coal mine disasters spurred a flurry of new safety laws.

Lawmakers on Wednesday pledged to pass additional legislation that would improve safety, give miners a way to complain anonymously about safety concerns and improve the government's response during accidents.

"We have the responsibility to make sure people can go to work and come home safely," said Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill. "Anything short of that is shame on us."

[Krazcarl]

Yes the goverment should have shut them down and if it was unsafe why didn''t they? But the company knew and there the ones to be held accountable they were trying for an easy buck.

[michellem99-2009]

They have rights. Those rights are they are as safe in their work places as can be. Not some greed companies using them to pay a paycheck and get rich off the backs of the poor. Sure there are risks BUT they must have safety items to live and do their jobs. Safety first.

[cbyers3]

SEEMS TO ME A LOT OF UNINFORMED IDIOTS ARE TALKING OUT OF TURN BLAMING THE GOV; MINING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DANGEROUS PROPOSIITON REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY SAFTY STANDARDS ARE ENFORCED. THE PEOPLE WHO MINE FOR A LIVING KNOW THIS AND ARE AWARE OF THEIR SITUATION. TO HAVE FORECAST EARTH MOVEMENT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE EXPERTISE THAN IS NORMALLY HUMAN. WE ALL HAVE TO FACE HE FACT THAT OUR NEXT DRIVE HOME MIGHT BE OUR LAST.

[consciousnes]

Why is it always the Government''s fault, why can''t people take responsibility for themselves. Or should I say the company they are working for. THEY are the ones making the money from these mines. The workers their wages and the company their profits. Yes, hopefully they all pay taxes, but did the thirteen colonies wait for the British Government to change their taxes? NO. Come on people, wake up!!

[antoniof123]

The storm has formed and I don''t think this group of misfits sees it yet. The GOP had better wake up soon because if it isn''t too late it will be by the beginning of the next year for them. You might be able to curb the coming of the storm from a category 5 to just a category 4 if you hurry. But I think the GOP is in for a rude awaking that we Americans don''t have such a short memory or are as forgiving as the would like to believe.

[gkc99]

"I hear office work under the corrupt US terror regime can be even more dangerous"--Posted by zootallures2


You''re off topic, Turk. Take it to a more appropriate thread.

"No grass grows in the footprint of the Turk."

[gkc99]

The smarmy Gov. Huntsman (R., Utah) last night on TV actually tried to justify the state of Utah''s inaction on what was well known to be an unsafe operation by saying that if there was too much mine regulation, the owners would close the mines.

So Murray was allowed to kill miners to protect his profit margins by the Repugs of Utah, as well as by the Repugs of the Bushit administration.

If coal is such a national priority for energy, let the government appropriate all the coal and mine it as a vital national resource, with appropriate safety controls, and the coal costing what the real cost would be if safety were factored in.

But the Repugs won''t like that! That won''t let them pay off the billionaire ruling class that owns and operates the USA under Repug control!

[sgtrds]

Richard Stickler is a former mine company executive of a company that had a dismal safety record. When the Bush administration first tried to get him appointed as head of MSHA so many republican senators refused to confirm him (that''s right...republicans) because of what a poor choice he was that Bush waited until the Senate was out of session and appointed him as recess appointment, the same way he shoved Bolton down the throat of the UN. Stickler is nothing more then a mine company toady whose only job is to ignore mine safety violations and to close his eyes and ears to anyone who wants to improve mine safety if it''s going to cost the mine companies any money at all. he has also overseen a huge slashing to MSHA budget and the cutbacks of inspections. He is, in short, a corporate murderer.

[gkc99]

These deaths are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the price Americans pay so the Bushit administration can pay off their billionaire supporters and appoint "Brownies" to responsible positions because and only because they are Bushit backers.

You can''t really blame Murray for being a greedy, unfeeling ***, that''s how the man is made. You can blame the Federals for not reining in the creep and making him operate safely. But Bushit and the neocons were too busy "deregulating" and "getting the government of the backs" of the uber-rich Repugs. And working people pay the price.

thanks, Neoconscum!

[jeepmanjr]

Feared retribution? What about fear of death? If any prudent person had this concern which road do you think they''d take, c''mon!! You can''t look for another job if your dead for cryin'' out loud. I feel for these folks, but life is full of chances and choices and ultimately it was there decision. Don''t blame the government (big pockets) for the decisions these folks made. Apparently their loved ones didn''t mind as long as the pay flowed!! Not heartless, just real!!