A four-year investigation of a nine-fatality disaster at a Utah coal mine has ended "with only minor charges" against the operator, who "will plead guilty to two misdemeanors for willfully violating safety laws in the mine and will pay the maximum fine of $500,000," Mike Gorrell reports for the Salt Lake Tribune. "Loved ones of Crandall Canyon mine disaster victims reacted with indignation and frustration."
U.S. Attorney David Barlow said the two violations were those his prosecutors could prove "beyond a reasonable doubt." Neither contributed directly to mine's collapse on Aug. 6, 2007, which buried six miners. "Three rescuers died and six more were injured in a second implosion 10 days later," Gorrell notes. One charge "stemmed from the company’s failure to quickly report a devastating March 10, 2007, implosion that did not injure anyone but stopped mining in a section relatively close to where the fatalities occurred five months later. The second count involved evidence that, just three days before the fatal collapse, the company mined into a 'barrier pillar' of coal left behind to hold up the mine roof," in direct contravention of orders from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The case settlement says no more charges will be filed. (Read more) The mine is owned by Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corp. of Ohio, left. (Photo and document link from Coal Tattoo, The Charleston Gazette)
U.S. Attorney David Barlow said the two violations were those his prosecutors could prove "beyond a reasonable doubt." Neither contributed directly to mine's collapse on Aug. 6, 2007, which buried six miners. "Three rescuers died and six more were injured in a second implosion 10 days later," Gorrell notes. One charge "stemmed from the company’s failure to quickly report a devastating March 10, 2007, implosion that did not injure anyone but stopped mining in a section relatively close to where the fatalities occurred five months later. The second count involved evidence that, just three days before the fatal collapse, the company mined into a 'barrier pillar' of coal left behind to hold up the mine roof," in direct contravention of orders from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
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