Congressional probe promised for deadly mine

WASHINGTON - Congress will investigate and hold hearings on the Utah mine disaster, several key congressional leaders vowed Friday after a second tragedy at the Crandall Canyon mine brought rescue operations to a halt.
The chairwoman of the Senate subcommittee that oversees mine safety promised a congressional probe, as did the the head of the House Education and Labor Committee. Utah politicians also backed an investigation of what went wrong in the initial mine tunnel collapse and the subsequent rescue effort that claimed three lives Thursday night.
"We owe it to all those affected by this tragedy and to mine workers everywhere to find out why this accident occurred, and how future disasters can be prevented," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has oversight of mine safety.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chairwoman of HELP subcommittee on employment and workplace safety, said in "light of the tragic events" she promised to join with colleagues to "conduct a comprehensive investigation into the causes of this tragedy, the handling of the response, and the ways we can improve mine safety and rescue efforts across our nation."
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., said the latest news was "extremely disturbing," and while his prayers are with the rescuers, their families and the trapped miners, the tragedy has again
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raised serious questions about mine safety and how to improve it.
"The Education and Labor Committee intends to answer those questions by investigating and convening hearings at the appropriate time," Miller said in a statement.
Neither member set any timetable for hearings, citing the still-ongoing rescue efforts. "Obviously, right now the only job that matters is the job of reaching the six trapped miners while limiting, as much as possible, the risk to rescuers," Miller said.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who called for a suspension of any rescue effort until the safety of the responders could be assured, signaled support for a congressional investigation, saying that Washington must use this experience as a lesson on how to improve mine safety.
"I think this is a defining moment for the history of mining," Huntsman said during a news conference. "And we all expect to come out of this better and smarter and safer."
The last congressional hearings on a mine disaster emerged in 2006 out of the deaths of 12 miners at the Sago mine in West Virginia and resulted in the passage of the MINER Act.
That legislation was called the biggest improvement in mine safety regulations in some 30 years, and forced mine owners to continuously update emergency response plans, required two-way communications and electronic tracking equipment within three years and boosted penalties for flagrant violations.
But several members say the bill did not go far enough and are pushing additional measures in the House and Senate to beef up safety requirements. The Senate version speeds up the date by which mines must install improved underground communication systems and enhances penalties for a mine with a "pattern of violations."
While no member of Congress on Friday would say if the mine disaster might spur the legislation's passage it's likely to gain support following the Utah tragedy.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the Mine Safety and Health Administration would "completely" investigate the tragedy and Congress should hold hearings, but he cautioned that any investigation needs to be put off until the miners are rescued.
"I know that many in Congress will want to get involved in this, and I'll support the efforts to make sure miners are as safe as possible," Hatch said. "But for the present time, we need to let the professionals do their job, with our support but without our interference."
tburr@sltrib.com
gehrke@sltrib.com who spoke at a news conference Friday in Huntington.


Bush offers condolences

WASHINGTON - President Bush called Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Friday about the Crandall Canyon mine disaster, the second call the president has made to Huntsman to express concern for the trapped miners and their families.
"The president spoke to Gov. Huntsman this afternoon to offer his support and condolences to all those affected by this tragedy and said he is keeping the miners, rescue workers and their families in his thoughts and prayers," said White House spokesman Trey Bohn.
Bush initially called shortly after the mine disaster hit last week to offer any federal help needed.