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December 2, 2008 8:56:10 AM CST

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13 Stories

Deadly Mine Collapse Draws Record Fine

Weak pillars, dangerous areas linked to Utah deaths

CNN CNN Jul 25, 08 6:21 AM CDT
(Newser) - The federal government has socked a Utah mine operator and its consultant with the highest fine ever—$1.85 million—for safety violations in a mine collapse that killed six men last year. Investigators said weak pillar support and work in dangerous areas of the Crandell Canyon mine led to the disaster. The mine operator was charged $1.34 million “for violations that directly contributed to the deaths,” as well as $300,000 in other penalties. More »

More about:  Utah • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • fine • mine safety

Report: Utah Mine Collapse Was Avoidable

Company, feds faulted for ignoring 'red flags' about tenuous section

New York Times New York Times May 8, 08 1:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - Mining officials concealed information that could have prevented the deaths of nine miners in Utah last year, says a congressional report out today. The August disaster followed the collapse of a nearby section of the mine, which indicated that the terrain was unsafe—but officials at the Crandall Mine didn’t report the earlier incident to federal safety authorities, the New York Times reports. More »

More about:  coal mine • mine collapse • mine safety • Crandall Canyon Mine

UPDATED

Ukraine Mine Blast Toll Hits 63

37 men missing in methane gas explosion

Associated Press Associated Press Nov 18, 07 2:18 PM CST
(Newser) - At least 63 miners were killed early today when a methane gas explosion ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine. Another 37 miners were missing and rescuers have been unable to establish communication with any survivors. More than 360 men were safely evacuated from the half-mile deep mine, AP reports. More »

More about:  Ukraine • mine collapse • methane

Last South African Miners Freed

Minister vows to 'tighten up' mine safety laws, shuts down mine for 6 weeks

BBC BBC Oct 4, 07 7:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - The last of more than 3,200 workers were lifted from a South African mine today after more than a day underground, BBC reports. "It was terrible," said one miner. "There was not enough air and they tried putting in more and ventilating the areas where we were trapped." The men were hauled out in groups of 75 without any serious injuries. More »

More about:  South Africa • mine • mine collapse

Rain Foils Mine Camera Drop

But device should work in normal conditions

Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Aug 28, 07 12:11 PM CDT
(Newser) - An 8-inch robotic camera’s descent down a 1,415-foot borehole in the collapsed Crandall Canyon Mine was cut short yesterday by several hours of steady rain, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The weather blocked positioning of equipment needed to drop the camera, as well as preparations for a seventh borehole, in the search for the miners who have now been trapped for more than two weeks. More »

More about:  Utah • rescue • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • camera

Mine Operation Continues With 7th Hole and Camera

Camera could reach shaft bottom by this afternoon

Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Aug 27, 07 5:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Reversing an earlier decision, recovery efforts will continue at the Utah mine where six miners were trapped three weeks ago. A seventh hole will be drilled into the mine, and a camera will be dropped into a previously bored hole to search for signs of life. Family members requested that the new hole be drilled to the kitchen area, where the men were supposed to congregate in an emergency. More »

More about:  Utah • miners • coal mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse

6th Hole Shows No Signs of Life

Associated Press Associated Press Aug 25, 07 9:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - The last hole drilled into the collapsed Utah mine where six men are trapped yielded no hopeful sign today; the space it reached was too small to support the men, a lawyer for some of the families told the press. "The only thing they told us is there is no void where the sixth hole is; there is no space," he told the AP after a meeting with mine officials. More »

More about:  disaster • Utah • collapse • miners • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse

Rescue Workers Will Bore One
Last Hole

Company decides
to close mine permanently

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Aug 23, 07 3:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - Workers will bore a final hole in a bid to locate six miners lost in a Utah mine, but if that fails, the operation will be halted and the mine closed as a kind of memorial tomb, the owner said yesterday. "We're not going to risk more live people to get dead bodies," said Bob Murray. Three rescue workers died in a collapse last week. More »

More about:  Utah • rescue • miners • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • Bob Murray

Owners Mull Reopening Mine

With fate of missing miners still uncertain, economic issues surface

New York Times New York Times Aug 22, 07 12:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Days after three more deaths ended efforts to rescue trapped miners, Crandall Canyon’s operators are talking about reopening the Utah mine—to mixed reaction from families and townspeople, according to the Times. Some wonder how the area is safe for mining but not for continuing recovery operations; others point to the mine's crucial place in the local economy. More »

More about:  Utah • rescue • safety • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse

Families, Critics Question Safety of Utah Mine

Mourner assails company owner at rescue worker's funeral

Associated Press Associated Press Aug 21, 07 9:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - A friend of a missing miner insulted the mining company CEO at a funeral yesterday as critics around the country pointed fingers. They say a safety organization has gone too easy on Bob Murray, letting him engage in dangerous “retreat mining” even though his mines are prone to “bumps,” or sudden earth shake-ups. Defenders say Murray has improved safety. More »

More about:  Utah • safety • miners • mine • mine collapse • Bob Murray • Crandall Canyon Mine

Mine Owner: They're Probably Dead

Miners' bodies may never be recovered

Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Aug 21, 07 7:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - The trapped Utah miners are most likely dead, and their bodies may never be recovered, mine owner Robert Murray acknowledged to bereaved family members last night. Following the death of three rescuers—and a report from mining experts concluding that further attempts would be an unacceptable risk—underground rescue efforts have been suspended indefinitely. More »

More about:  rescue • miners • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • Bob Murray

9 Injured in 2nd Mine Collapse

CNN CNN Aug 16, 07 9:37 PM CDT
(Newser) - At least nine rescuers at the Utah mine where six miners were trapped last week are injured after seismic activity may have caused another cave-in, CNN reports. Six or more ambulances and two helicopters rushed to the Crandall Canyon mine tonight to transport the wounded rescuers to the hospital. More »

More about:  Utah • collapse • miners • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • Bob Murray

Rescuers Hear 'Noise' in Mine

Crews start drilling toward unknown sound

Deseret News (Salt Lake) Deseret News (Salt Lake) Aug 15, 07 10:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rescuers digging for men who have been trapped underground for 10 days heard noise inside the mine today, prompting crews to drill a fourth hole in the sound's direction. They described hearing 5 minutes of “noise” through seismic geophones, ignighting some hope in an otherwise-discouraging rescue effort. "There's a very good chance we may find them alive," said the mine owner.  More »

More about:  Utah • rescue • miners • mine • Crandall Canyon • mine collapse • Bob Murray • noise

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