Governor addresses mine-safety panel and calls for clarification of state role

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told the Utah Mine Safety Commission today that a lack of adequate communications technology was a frustrating obstacle during the rescue efforts following the Crandall Canyon Mine accident.

At the request of commission chairman Scott Matheson, the governor spoke to the blue-ribbon panel that he had appointed to study mine safety in Utah after the mine collapse in August at Crandall Canyon, in Emery County. Six miners were trapped in the accident, and their bodies were never recovered. Three rescuers died days later trying to reach them.

Huntsman today offered his ideas on what can be done to prevent future tragedies and how to respond in the event of a similar emergency.

Sitting before the panel in a committee room in the west building of the State Capitol Complex, Huntsman talked about the difficulties faced by rescue and emergency personnel at the site of the mine disaster.

"In hindsight, communication above ground was a challenge," Huntsman said in a raspy voice, fighting the last remnants of the flu. "Cell phone, satellite phones were practically no good until a portable Verizon cell tower arrived on scene."

Communication underground was equally frustrating, he said.

"I couldn't help but think there was a space shuttle that was circling the Earth and an astronaut who was repairing the space shuttle outside of the shuttle while in space, and we were dealing with this tragedy 1,800 feet below the ground without the ability to communicate."

Huntsman noted the importance of accessing or developing technology that would make communication in and around mines possible. Having such communications capability would be a critical element in emergency situations like Crandall Canyon.

The governor also talked about defining the responsibilities of emergency responders.

"We need better clarification of what the proper roles should be for each organization in this kind of rescue effort," Huntsman said. "We probably could do a better job looking to the future... and further delineating the roles and responsibilities of those involved."

The governor asked the commission to consider how best the state could serve the mining community going forward.

"Should (the state) assume a more active role as a state as it relates to safety?" he asked. "I think we need a clearly defined organizational outline that details what the state does, what (the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration) does, and what the private company does at the outset and during the duration of the incident" such as the Crandall Canyon accident, said Huntsman.

The commission is reviewing the role of the state in mine safety, accident prevention and accident response, and will make recommendations to the governor.

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