The Crandall Canyon Tragedy: Five Years Later

by Press Staff

 

Five years ago today, a section of the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah became the site of the worst coal mining tragedy of 2007. Pillars of coal supporting a roof burst, sending coal flying and creating enough force to register a 3.9 on the Richter scale. Rubble blocked every exit, entombing six miners somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 feet underground. Three courageous rescuers, including one from MSHA, who attempted to reach them also died in the rescue effort.

Peg McEntee, a columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune, traveled to Huntington, Utah to see how the community was fairing five years later.

Last week, I stopped at another monument to the miners near the Huntington Cemetery. It’s a curving wall with a panel of bas-reliefs of their faces, sculpted by Karen Templeton and cast in now-patinated bronze.

I’d seen it before, but this time I felt a shock — they seemed to be looking right into my eyes. For an instant, I caught a glimpse of the good men who will always live in memory in coal country and far beyond.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City announced two criminal misdemeanor charges against Genwal Resources, a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation. Each charge was settled for the maximum $250,000 fine.

The federal judge overseeing the case expressed outrage at the limits of federal law to punish companies that skirt the law.

“My initial take is outrage at the minuscule amount of the penalty provided by the federal statute." He said he reviewed the options available to prosecutors if he rejected the plea deal, but concluded that course of action only would prolong the "sorrow and grief" without any better results.

Rep. Miller said of the settlement at the time:

Regrettably, Congress’ work remains unfinished in preventing such mining tragedies from occurring in the first place. This case is proof positive that weak criminal sanctions under the Mine Act leave many prosecutors with limited penalties to punish those who engage in willful violations. That’s why we must strengthen the law to deter future tragedies and to give prosecutors meaningful tools to hold all those responsible for putting miners in unnecessary danger accountable, no matter where they stand in the corporate chain of command.