Mine Engineering Company Memo Shows Utah Mine Already Had Roof Problems In March

[DeSwiss]

Memo shows mine already had roof problems in March

By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
08/12/2007 01:07:15 PM MDT

Operators at the Crandall Canyon mine experienced serious structural problems in the mine in March and entirely abandoned work in an area about 900 feet from where six miners remained trapped Saturday.

A memo obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune shows that mine owners were trying to work around "poor roof conditions" before halting mining of the northern tunnels in early March after a "large bump occurred . . . resulting in heavy damage" in those tunnels.

A bump or bounce occurs when the intense pressure on the coal pillars supporting the mine causes the pillars to burst, "sending coal and rock flying with explosive force," according to that National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The memo indicates that mine operators knew the tremendous pressures of a mountain bearing down on the mine were creating problems with the roof, and they were searching for a way to safely keep the mine from falling in as they cut away the coal pillars supporting the structure.

"It's dangerous. Damn dangerous I would say," Robert Ferriter, now director of the mine safety program at the Colorado School of Mines and a 27-year veteran of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. "What is MSHA doing in all this? They're the ones who are supposed to catch this sort of thing."

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6605040

Also see: http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_6589559">Murray's Illinois mine has 2,787 violations since 2005

*** - That's a good question. What were the MSHA doing in all this? Well, here's a possible clue: it appears that all those GOP contributions have paid off very well for Robert "I'm-Just-A-Po'-Boy" Murray. It seems that he's been able to escape unscathed from countless mine safety violations and millions in fines. So maybe the MSHA were busy.... looking the other way.

However, let's not get our attention diverted here. What's important is that we remember that there is no such thing as "Global Warming". And we also must remember that all of these mine problems don't have anything to do with Robert Murray and his ilk. No, no, no.... it's Hillary that's the problem.....

[kestrel91316]

1. What, is Brownie running MSHA now? 'Cause he's doing a

heckuva job!

[DeSwiss]

2. It does look like his handiwork, doesn't it? n/t

[atreides1]

3. Actually It's Mrs. McConnell who's in charge

Otherwise known as Elaine L. Chao the Secretary of Labor, just like Brownie she has nothing in her education or past that shows any experience with labor or labor concerns. She has a B.A. in Economics, and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, that would be the same school that King George attended!