Handling of mine disaster questioned

Source: Associated Press

"We're going to see changes in this industry because of this accident," said Ellen Smith, owner of the industry newsletter Mine Safety and Health News. "There is no doubt."

Mine Safety and Health Administration director Richard Stickler had already come under fire for being slow to take public control of the scene.

Even though Stickler's agency is supposed to be in charge, the mine's colorful co-owner, Bob Murray, has dominated news conferences, narrated video of rescue efforts for TV news and — despite safety concerns — personally led reporters and family members on a tour of his mine.

The fact that MSHA let anyone, including rescuers, into the still-dangerous mine is raising new questions. Others also predict greater scrutiny of the agency's decision to allow mining at Crandall Canyon at all, given what it knew about conditions that made the mine particularly unstable.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070818/ap_on_go_ot/utah_mine_collapse_oversight

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Looks like the Earthquake boys are going to get their just desserts. I can hardly wait. These guys make the Sago mine disaster look like it was being run by concerned, Compassionate professionals. Stickler stood there with his thumb up his ass as Murray proceeded to take advantage of the microphone to advance his theories on global warming and the cost of coal. He finally got around to mentioning the miners 10 minutes into the news conference. Bastards