Jim Matheson: “I would like to compliment Chairman Miller. He has been a tireless advocate for America's mine workers and has worked…”

“I would like to compliment Chairman Miller. He has been a tireless advocate for America's mine workers and has worked hard to improve mine safety. I appreciate working with the Chairman to include language in H.R. 2768 that will allow for the appropriate use of belt-air in mines. This legislation is very near to my heart and is something that I have been working on in the aftermath of the disaster at Crandall Canyon Mine which is in my district. On August 6, six miners were trapped when rocks and debris exploded off the walls of the tunnels where they were working, more than eighteen hundred feet underground. During the rescue attempt that followed, further disaster struck when underground activity caused a burst of rubble to explode off the cavern wall, killing three rescuers. One of the most difficult aspects of the Crandall Canyon mine collapse was not knowing where the trapped miners were when the cave-in occurred. It made for an excruciating ordeal for the families, the mine owner and the mine rescuers. The lack of communications left the rescuers with the frustrating scenario of trying to drill blindly through hundreds of feet of rock with the hope of reaching survivors.”