Families, Critics Question Safety of Utah Mine

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.

A worker’s widow asked mourners not to challenge Murray, but one angrily gave him a dollar bill toward the rescue effort. He tossed it aside and told the man to “find out about the Lord.” And the brother of another trapped miner says he is getting calls from people claiming that the mine was unsafe, the AP reports. (More Utah stories.)