Posted on 01/21/2006 2:10:00 PM PST by 2111USMC
Edited on 01/21/2006 2:22:59 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
>MELVILLE, W.Va. — Rescuers on Saturday found the bodies of two coal miners who disappeared after a conveyor belt caught fire deep inside a coal mine.
The bodies of Don I. Bragg, 33, and Ellery Hatfield, 47, were found in an area of the mine where rescue teams had been battling the fire for more than 40 hours.
"We have found the two miners we were looking for," said , director of the state Office of Miners' Health Training and Safety. "Unfortunately we don't have a positive outcome."
The miners became separated Thursday evening as their 12-member crew tried to escape a conveyor belt fire at Aracoma Coal's Alma No. 1 mine in Melville, about 60 miles southwest of . The rest of the crew and nine other miners working in a different section of the mine escaped unharmed.
Gov. and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller informed families of the deaths at a church prior to making the announcement, along with Don Blankenship, chairman of the mine's owner, Massey Energy.
Actually, I think it's more about money. But increasing survivability doesn't need to cost a mint.
Strip mine. Yet that pisses off the tree huggers. **ck them. Rip the top of the mountain off, backfill when finished. Unless one happens to be a puss.
Not a state issue
It's a mine issue. A company as large as Massey Engery is, and it's easy for you to google and find out just how big they are, should have people on standby for just that purpose. We shouldn't have to wait for them to fly in from four states away.
They should be able to be paged out, and on scene in an hour or less.
Money fine. 1 hour of SCBA. Screw that. Unless one seeks a green solution. Strip mine or go for "wind"
The only legislations they'll probably write re:mines is to name one after themselves.
I agree on strip mining. It's a lot safer, but I'm in the minority in this community.
My condolences to the families.
We who have worked underground know the risks, and except them. It's a lifestyle few can do. I can't anymore, as a dad.
Prayers. How sad.
Es tut mir leid. Schade.
This is a pity.
Rockefeller, and Rahall are scoundrels. They cannot help being so, it is as instinctual as breathing. However, if they introduce legislation that uses common sense to get more training for miners, mine inspectors and rescuers, then I am for it.
If they intro bills to compel mines to put oxygen stations in mines, and provide tracking gear for miners, then I'll be for that.
Finally, let me introduce another factor for you folks to consider.
There are a lot of federal and state mine inspectors who are on the take, inept, lazy, or all three. When an inspector accepts college football tickets from a mine superintendant, then you have to wonder why, and what did the superintendant receive in return?
They need to clean house in these agencies.
Keep in mind one final thing my friends. I would say a LOT of these miners were, and are, Republicans. If not, W would not have won WV TWICE.
We owe it to them. They are our people.
Because it involves human life. Both the trapped and the rescue personnel.
It's news.
(It's also a helluva lot more important than some whale dying after a rescue attempt in a British river. JMHO)
Judging by that chart posted, the years 1949 and 1983 were watershed years, when fatalities were reduced by almost half and then never went back up to previous levels again.
Something happened to make a difference then--what could it have been?
It's because these are good, hard working people who work at an inherently dangerous job.
I value them 10,0000 times more than a damn slimy whale.
Complete automation? Strip mining?
strip mining, robotic diggers controlled by someone outside the mine with a joystick and a video camera, etc.
I don't think complete automation in deep mining is possible.
Interesting list. Of course, those deaths occur one at a time... and single, accidental deaths don't bring in news crews and windbag Senators.
"There are a lot of federal and state mine inspectors who are on the take, inept, lazy, or all three. When an inspector accepts college football tickets from a mine superintendant, then you have to wonder why, and what did the superintendant receive in return?"
I would not doubt this for a minute. I don't think any Freeper is saying that our country should not do everything possible to make mining safer, we are anticipating the way the dems will use this tragedy to bash Bush and then muck up legislation with enviromental red tape. That's my prediction anyway.
Prayers offered.
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