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Senate sets hearing on mine collapse

I dont care what people do and or say,those men need to be found, my dad used to work in that mine, and some of the men that worked with my dad are STILL in that mine,someof my old classmates were in that mine during the 2nd collapse, my dad is gone now,not from mining but other things, i know how it feels, no one should ever feel the way i feel. they NEED to find those men reguardless of weather they are not alive anymore,the families need closure,i need closure!!

C. Riddle
Washington State.

My prayers go out to all the families,friends and people who are hurt and scared may the lord be with you.

From what I understand, Bob Murray was confronted several times about the working conditions and safety of this particular mine. Of course this is only hearsay, but the information that I received was that if anyone complained, they were fired. I have heard from others and once on TV that all Bob Murray was ever concerned with was how much productivity was going on and this particular mine has been resently harassed because their productivity was not up to snuff.
I don't care what it takes, these bodies need to be pulled from this mine and closure given to the families of the lost miners. My prayers go out to all and I am still keeping a candle burning for these 6 souls.
Have they tried drilling right into that pile of caved in coal? Those bodies have to be somewhere!!!
C Showalter
Moab

Kennedy cared more than Hatch? Orin is doing important business like writing songs.

From my understanding the initial mining plans were in place, approved by regulators, prior to Bob Murray's acquistion of this mine. On CNN last night, Anderson Cooper asked him pointedly - a couple of times - Bob Murray maintained he knows nothing about any modifications of these plans. Further, since his official involvement with Crandall Canyon Mines, it has only received 2 citations and orders, unlike previous years. To me, it appears Bob Murray has helped to make this mine safer, not unsafe. It was regularly inspected and certified as safe.

With respect to the decisions made on the rescue efforts, he has said is committed to find the miners and I feel he is doing the best he can along with the information presented, assessed and determined, by experts with over 500 years of experience, and/including that of government regulators on the options for rescue and stability of the mine at this time. I am sure efforts to find these men will continue from the current drillings even though he has previously said otherwise.

I feel Bob Murray is doing everything he can possibly do to find the miners. I'm sorry for all involved.

I agree with "Anonymous" at 4:39pm. I feel truly sorry for all involved--families,Mr Murry,etc. I am not minimizing the families' grief. This has taken a terrible toll on all involved. I think Mr Murray has gone the extra mile with all the rescue efforts with the multiple drillings, but the unstableness of the rock layers have been against all. I wish, as we all do, that it was otherwise. I also feel he has been genuine--he was out there in front, taking the heat, instead of hiding in an office somewhere far away (or near) and letting some underling do the "dirty work" of facing the press and the families and the inspectors.

Just a reminder of the bigger picture--What about the 188 coal miners who died in China (shortly after the Crandall mine collapse) after being forced into the mine, no rescue effort, and their families hushed up by the government there? They have no hope at all. There has been very little mention of this. In this country,we are more fortunate because the regulations, although imperfect and needing improvement, are there to protect the miners. We cannot ensure a risk free job anywhere, but unnecessary risk can be eliminated. This may sound simple, but wouldn't a system of phones--like you see in some states along the freeway--have helped in Sago and Crandall? Location and condition would be known very quickly, and rescue efforts could be focused. We have come a long way in mine safety, and hopefully the Crandall mine accident/investigation will add to the needed information to help keep things safer for those involved in this inherently dangerous job.

It looks like the pro-Robert Murray astroturfers will try to take over this thread, too. So, before they get going too well, here's some truth.

Murray altered the plans for Crandall Canyon mine to allow retreat mining of the pillars. When one side of the area being mined collapsed in March, he did not report the collapse to MSHA. Instead, he requested and received permission to retreat mine the pillars on the other side. That mining was occurring when the August collapses happened, losing six men and killing three. This information comes from MSHA documents leaked to the Salt Lake Tribune. I don't believe anyone knowing such information can maintain any illusions about Murray.

As for Murray's tendency to lie and evade when questioned, that should be seen as damning. For example, only a fool would believe Murray's claim the first August collapse was caused by an earthquake.

I suspect Murray will take the Fifth Amendment rather than be forced to tell the truth to the Congressional committee.

Where have you seen these documents? What is the link? I would like to see them. I have been surfing the web and following all the news on this, including Deseret News. I have already seen where the media (all the channels) have messed up on some reporting. None the less, if I could see and read these documents, I might believe this is true... Care to expound on this? I have a dear friend who is trapped in the mine and I'm not giving up on him. I don't want just "closure". It's too easy for people to use this word. Murray worked his butt off on the rescue. Now it seems no one even cares.