Report says Crandall Canyon collapses were result of 'inadequate design'
"It was a catastrophic outburst of the coal pillars that were used to support the group above the coal seam," explained Richard Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health during an afternoon press briefing detailing the long-awaited report.
Families of the dead miners heard the results of the report on the collapses earlier this morning from Stickler.
Wendy Black, wife of killed rescuer Dale Black, said that what she heard in the briefing from the Mine Safety and Health Administration only reinforced what she already knew about the mine plan for Crandall Canyon.
"It was flawed to begin with," Black said.
The report revealed that MSHA fined mine operator Genwal Resources Inc. $1.6 million, while also fining mining engineer firm Agapito Associates Inc. $220,000 for its "flawed engineering analysis." In total, 21 citations or violations were issued — 10 of those (nine to Genwal and one to Agapito) contributing directly to the accident.
The report further accuses Genwal of not revising its mining plan following the March bursts, opting rather to continue to "mine in areas with unsafe conditions."
Said Stickler, "The mine operator failed to revise its roof control plan when conditions underground clearly indicated that the plan was not adequate."
He also said Genwal incorporated flawed design recommendations from Agapito, which failed to recommend a safe mining plan, safe barrier and pillar dimensions.
Stickler also made clear that earlier assertions made by mine owner Bob Murray that the collapse was triggered by an earthquake were not accurate. "It was not — and I'll repeat not — a naturally occurring earthquake."
During an earlier briefing for families, a lawyer representing the widow of Don Erickson, one of the six original trapped miners, asked MSHA why the mine plan was approved if MSHA knew it was flawed.
"They just kind of dodged the bullet," Nelda Erickson said about the answer from MSHA officials.
Erickson said she wasn't surprised by the investigation's results.
"I didn't learn anything I didn't already basically know," Erickson said. "I'm glad that they did a thorough investigation."
Recent comments
"Mine Safety Agency Bespatters its Own Image." It's...
MineSafety | July 28, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
The miners should recive title to the mines as compensation and they...
Ike | July 24, 2008 at 9:38 p.m.
Remember how the Deseret News made Murray out to be the victim?
Anonymous | July 24, 2008 at 8:27 p.m.
