Re: After Utah mine collapse, mine safety chief faces more scrutiny

Re: After Utah mine collapse, mine safety chief faces more scrutiny

Instead of looking for someone to blame, why don't they look at howthe whole agency operates. Congress is focusing on the Coal side ofthe industry and ignoring what is going on with Metal/Non-Metal.
Ifyou look at the accidents on this side of the house, you will seethat up until Crandall Canyon their was more fatal injuries in Metalthan in Coal. Most of them have been in Sand and Gravel, but oneaccident where a miner was trapped underground went relatively un-noticed by the national press and congress. This accident resulted inone employee buried under tons of gold ore for over a week. Why isn'tCongress asking about this one. Could it be because it is in Reed'shome state and he is receiving major support from the two largestgold producers in the world.That mine remains closed while MSHA finishes it's investigation.It would be better if Congress would step up and fund research intoways to better track where people are underground, develop newtechology to assist and protect mine rescue personnel, develop newtraining programs for mine rescue personnel that will allow them totrain on real life scenarios instead of relying on simulations andtheatrical smoke. It's time mining companies and unions step up andsupport mine rescue training efforts for the surface and undergroundoperations instead of waiting until there is a major disaster likeSago and Crandall Canyon before they realize the need. It's also timefor MSHA to develop regulations for surface rescue, because withoutthe requirment of the law the mines will continue to rely on outsidevolunteer department to handle serious mine accidents that they arenot trained for or equipped to handle.