- ‹ previous
- 5019 of 8922
- next ›
The Man Behind the Utah Mine Collapse
The six miners now trapped in a coal mine in Utah were working for Murray Energy, whose owner has become one of the most outspoken—and unhinged—spokespeople for coal power in the last year, as the dirty energy source has come under increasing scrutiny. Coal is the largest single contributor to greenhouse-gas pollution—but Mr. Murray denies that fossil fuels cause global warming.
Murray has used his platform as spokesman in the tragedy to continue his defense of the industry. On Tuesday, he delivered what the Washington Post called "a general paean to coal," threatening that, "Without coal to manufacture our electricity, our products will not compete in the global marketplace…and people on fixed incomes will not be able to pay for their electric bills."
Murray also adamantly denied that the "retreat" method of mining which was used in the section that collapsed had anything to do with the accident. Retreat mining involves taking the last bits of coal from pillars that hold up the roof, and result in—ideally controlled—collapses. Murray has blamed the collapse on an earthquake, though seismologists say vibrations were caused by the collapse, not vice-versa.
Murray's unconventional approach has drawn criticism from the Democratic chairs of two House committees that oversee labor issues. Reps. George Miller and Lynn Woolsey pressed the Labor Department to assume the spokesman role because Murray's statements do "not meet [the] standard" for such emergencies.
But it should be said that the Democrats and Mr. Murray have no love lost. Murray has given heavily to Republicans, including, according to the Post, $100,000 last year alone from his political action committee to GOP congressional candidates.He has used his ties with important Republicans—particularly Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose wife, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, oversees mine safety—to avoid facing the music for safety violations. The Utah mine's safety record was fairly average, despite fines for safety violations in the hundreds of thousands, but nationally, Murray's mines have a shoddy safety record. When confronted in 2002 with safety violations, Murray threatened to have the inspectors fired, referring to his close friendship with McConnell. "The last time I checked," he said, "he [McConnell] was sleeping with your boss."
Great guy, huh? Would you trust him with your life?
I have been involved in the pulling pillar method of retreat mining. It is very dangerous and nobody really knows when the area will cave, there are some indications but nobody knows for sure. Mr. Murray needs to step up to the plate and be accountable for the disaster. Its people like Murray that give mining a bad name.
This guy is a jerk. He has money and because of that he is paying the fines and not fixing the problems. Unfortunately, the bottom line is more important than these mens lives. Shame on him. He comes across as a very calous man. He needs to get some compassion for famiies and loved ones of the trapped miners. He offers them no hope at all. They may not be alive, but you dont say that out loud 1 day into a "rescue" operation. What a jerk.
Forty nine years ago ( 1958 ) I was a young broadcast reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation covering the mine disaster at Springjhill Nova Scotia.It was the first time anyone had done live reportage from the scene of a similar mine disaster. Then ..as now , men were trapped underground..they were caught by a " bump" , a
shifting of underground strata described to me by a miner as being in a room when the walls all move towards each other and the floor rises to meet the ceiling . It sounds very much like the event which caught the Murray miners.On the occasion so many years ago ...men were brought up after a week , and another lot thirteen days after the " bump". But seventy five men died .At the time it became a worldwide event because of the live television coverage of which I was a part.It was also an event which haunts me still . Even as I tell about it now , the tears begin to flow. My heart goes out to the wives and family of the trapped miners .My spirit is with them. Mr. Murray can go to " the other place . "
Jack MacAndrew
And we mistakenly thought that things would improve after the Sago Mine disaster. But of course not. BushCo wouldn't want to do anything to impede profits.
Murray is only doing what he can to stave off the impending lawsuits. For all the good his comments will do in that regard.
Murray is an arrogant blusterer, of a type with the Shootist.
This SOB has the nerve to keep his ugly mug before the camera and show how 'concerned' he is, while lobbying for years against the most minimal mine safety standards. I wish there were a hell he could be sent to.
I worked for years on a room and pillar operation in Pennsylvania and most of what I'm reading dosen't make sense.
Please check this out. Nearly a year ago, the Lexington Union Ledger (out of Lexington KY) explored the cozy relationship between the McConnells (Sen Mitch R-KY and his wife, Labor Sec Elaine Chao) and the mining industry---as well as other big business interests. See how they form a "tag team" to circumvent the democratic process in the Senate and ram thorugh industry-favorable and labor-hostile regulations through labor that poor Mitch can't get the "ayes" on in the Senate:
http://www.kentucky.com/233/story/11062.html
My first impression of Mr. Murray was "what a big bag of wind."
Just another republican piece of crap. Full of himself, and unhinged. Probably likes little boys in his spare time.
All you good people keep voting for Republicans! That will help kill more miners, make more war and more profits. But don't count on me, I vote Green because I love my family and my planet.
Hopefully when Mr. Murray dies he will be forced to retreat mine the sulfurous pits of hell. I'm sure the safety standards are the same.
In China there are 6000 dead each year from coal mining. yah, 16 a day. wow.
I saw that guy on the news. About 50 lbs overweight and obviously $loaded$. What got me was he'd say about 3 words and then stop for about 20 seconds for affect. Well all it did was shout out "I'm an asshole." I hope you have bad dreams and satan is stoking up the brimstone and treacle for you, cuz you deserve it.
this place is infested with Bush haters & Corporation haters.
This mine owner is a refreshing blast of good music to many ears. Without jobs nobody's lives improve. I guess you all want to go back to the stone age, eh?
Or do you think Native Americans took such good care of mother earth that we should imitate them? Excuse me; the RIVERS were their sewage system. They just waited for spring thaws to flush their sewage downriver. Don't even talk to me about their hunting tactics of scaring 500 buffalo off a cliff to scavange the meat and parts of 100 of them before the rest SPOILED in the heat or arrowing dozens that only died days and weeks later of infections from the arrows.
Why does "Mark" hate hard working Americans?
Could someone please tell me?
Bush is great and mine owners are a breath of fresh air and unregulated corporate mines where safety is is ignored is just peachy because, well, even if your dead now, at least you had a job.
BUT....Those damn Indians crapped in the river and didn't eat all their buffallo which of course is just terrible.
Ahhh, the wonder of the Conservative mind. How do they keep breathing?
Prediction:
Murray's performance(s) will become classic a case study in Biz, Journalism Schools and other P.R. / management seminars on what NOT to do in tragedies, company difficulties, management, leadership, related situations etc for any business or organization.
What a jerk epitomizing the Capitalist Republican Creed & Motto: Profits Before People no matter what. CNN's Ted Rowlands intereviewed a guy who said any of Murray's workers knew they would be fired if they even suggested they were concerned about their safety. Now look what is sure to be the inevitable, tragic outcome.
Suggestion: Be sure to read the recent NYTimes editorial about USA Healthcare System is NOT World's Best -- these are related issues.
Up until 2006, this Crandall Canyon mine had been using longwall continuous mining methods (By Patty Henetz The Salt Lake Tribune- ) on North and South sides of this current "room and pillar" operation.
Continuous mining leaves a lot of loose collapsed overburden (with many huge voids). "Retreat mining" bumps/collapses with this loose unstable/unsettled soil on each side, results in major (sesmic scale) (unpredictable) readjustments in the mountain above. One person interviewed by TV NEWS, said that these bumps occurred regularly and more frequently (10-15 times) than sesmic events in this area. So it would seem that if MSHA really wanted to really do their job and enforce mine safety rules they would ask for daily reports from the local Seismograph Stations.
Although the Crandall Canyon mine operation had permission to do "retreat mining" they could only do it legally under certain conditions (measures as prescribed by soil/risk management consultants, training for the miners, additional safety/rescue precautions, emergency ventilation, and ADDITIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE)
Bob Murray's misleading and disputed statements regarding what was going on, leads one to guess that the proper steps and precautions were not taken. And that the proper insurance was not in effect at the time of the collapse. Unfortunately disasters resulting from retreat mining cover essentially all incriminating evidence.
This has the smell of another Katrine style bungling involving politics (MSHA administration) and lobbyist. Frank B