October 04, 2007
Families Decry 'Preventable Tragedy' At Utah Mine
In tearful testimony before the House Education and Labor Committee yesterday, family members of the miners and rescue workers killed in an August accident at Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine blamed company officials and the federal government for failing to respond to concerns workers had voiced about safety at the site.
Sitting amid framed pictures of the deceased miners, family members blamed both Bob Murray, operator of the Crandall Canyon facility, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration for allowing their loved ones to work in such dangerous conditions. "It would have taken just one MSHA official or one official from the company doing his job to have saved my husband's life," said Wendy Black, whose husband, Dale "Bird" Black, died trying to save the six miners initially trapped at Crandall Canyon.
Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., echoed her sentiment, deeming the collapse a "preventable tragedy."
The Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake Tribune and CNN have more on yesterday's hearing.
