[mmanager]

Finally someone here on FR understands what is going on. Great comment.

I have looked at the mine maps where the ‘event took place’. IMSHA approved Murray’s plan. I just hope he followed the plan. Imagine looking down on a map with two blocks of coal, 1000 feet wide, seperated by a 300 ft. barrier plus development of 150 feet in the main entry. This is one side and the other is the same with the mains in the middle. So you have the mains in the middle (~150 ft) 300 ft. of barrier on each side and 1000 ft. of mined out longwall (gob) caved in material on each side of the mains.

They were permitted as I understand to pull some of the supporting pillars next to the mains along with mining into the 300 ft barrier on each side.

You are correct with your remarks. This is high coal with a lot of cover (mountain on top).

I pray that Murray followed the approved mine plan.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Ferriter said it is his understanding that around the time of the Aug. 6 collapse, miners had been extracting coal from the pillars themselves.”
I thought I heard the owner say, early on, that this is NOT what they were doing. There’;s a lot of confusing info being put out, and not much real fact. Another thing, I’d like to know if the mining “expert” quoted in the article is a union guy.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

They could have been following the plan. Things don’t always go according to plan!