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MSHA launches Crandall investigation

ONE week after the state of Utah put together a group to examine the Crandall Canyon accident of August 6, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced its own team of experts has commenced an investigation.

Donna Schmidt

Seven individuals will assist in the investigation, including agency district manager Timothy R Watkins (Kentucky); supervisor Gary E Smith (Pennsylvania); Joseph R O'Donnell (Alabama); and MSHA technical support experts Joseph C Zelanko, Michael Gauna and Thomas A Morley.

Leading the group is 19-year agency veteran Richard A Gates of Alabama, a district manager and mining engineer. A specialist in ventilation, he is best known for leading the agency's investigation of the Sago mine incident in West Virginia last year.

MSHA's investigation will fully examine all available evidence to find the cause of the ground failure at Crandall Canyon mine and any violations of safety and health standards, agency head Richard Stickler said Thursday.

"A formal report issued by MSHA will summarise the findings and conclusions of the investigative team, identifying root causes of the accident and how the incident unfolded," MSHA noted.

"Any contributing violations of federal mine safety standards that existed will be cited at the conclusion of the investigation."

MSHA response going under microscope

The same day as Stickler's announcement of the seven-man review team, US Department of Labor secretary Elaine Chao said she had appointed two industry experts to conduct an independent review of the actions of MSHA during the events at Crandall Canyon.

"After discussions with administrator for mine safety and health Richard Stickler, I am taking the unprecedented step of appointing independent outside experts to evaluate MSHA's actions regarding the tragedy at the Crandall Canyon Mine on August 6 and the subsequent rescue efforts," she said.

The first of the two chosen individuals is former MSHA district manager and mine rescue expert Joseph Pavlovich. With 30 years of both surface and underground experience in the safety and health arena, Pavlovich led three post-accident investigations and played a large part in another.

He also worked with former MSHA administrator Davitt McAteer during the Sago mine review.

Expert two is former MSHA metal/nonmetal administrator and district manager Earnest Teaster Jr. With 32 years of industry experience, he has served in many roles including mine inspection as well as managerial and supervisory duties, and also previously led three post-accident reviews.

"The independent review will consist of a thorough examination of written mine plans, inspection records and other documents relevant to the Crandall Canyon Mine and interviews of MSHA employees with personal knowledge of MSHA's inspection responsibilities and enforcement procedures at the mine," Chao said Thursday.

"This review will provide a comparison of MSHA's actions at the Crandall Canyon Mine with the requirements of the federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the 'Mine Act', [as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006], its standards and regulations, and MSHA policies and procedures."

A report of findings and recommendations will be compiled at the conclusion of the pair's investigation. It will be made available to federal lawmakers, the miners' families and the public, Chao noted.

No anticipated date for release was available.

"The Crandall Canyon miners, the rescuers who were injured and perished in trying to save others, and the loved ones who have suffered so much in this tragedy continue to be foremost in our thoughts," Chao said.

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