HUNTINGTON — Mine owner Bob Murray says Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s recent comments about rescue efforts for six trapped miners have put hundreds of mining jobs in Utah's coal country in peril.
Deseret Morning News graphic  Letter to Gov. Huntsman(150 KB .pdf file) |
"If you persist in your statements and course of action, you, Governor, are going to jeopardize 700 jobs in Carbon and Emery Counties," Murray said in a letter obtained Friday by the Deseret Morning News.
"I cannot maintain them alone, and I definitely cannot do it if I am going to be your whipping-boy."
The letter emerges as drilling efforts continue today in what may be a final attempt to learn the fates of the miners trapped inside a collapsed part of the Crandall Canyon Mine. The drill has been moving through 1,700 feet of mountain to an area where the miners were last believed to have been working. The previous five holes drilled through the mountain have failed to make contact with the miners and have not shown any signs of life.
Murray has said that if this latest hole reveals no sign of life, he will abandon the rescue effort.
It has now been 20 days since Carlos Payan, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Brandon Phillips, Manuel Sanchez and Kerry Allred became trapped nearly 1,900 feet underground when a portion of the mine collapsed Aug. 6 in a seismic event that registered 3.9 on the Richter scale. Since then, rescuers have been frantically drilling and digging to reach them. On Aug. 16, another cave-in at the Crandall Canyon Mine killed three people and injured six others. Three of the six have been released from hospitals, while the other three remain hospitalized in varying conditions.
On Friday, miner Brandon Kimber, 29, was buried in Moab. Funeral services have also been held for Gary Jensen, 54, and Dale Black, 49.
'This guy'
Murray's letter was written in response to recent comments Huntsman made about the rescue effort.
"If it takes every dollar this guy has in his bank account, he needs to bring closure to this darn thing. We've got families of six good people who are currently sitting in that mine," Huntsman said last week.
In his letter, Murray criticized the governor, saying he has damaged the reputations of mine operators Murray Energy Corp., UtahAmerican Energy and "thousands of coal miners who do respect what I have done." Murray has owned the Crandall Canyon Mine and the South Crandall Mine for about a year, and also owns the Aberdeen and West Ridge mines in Carbon County.
Murray sent the letter to Huntsman and Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining director John Baza on Wednesday, marking it "personal and confidential." Calls to officials at the Crandall Canyon Mine for comment went unanswered Friday. Murray has been staying there since the Aug. 6 collapse.
In the letter, Murray takes exception to being called "this guy."
"Governor Huntsman, I suggest that, for your own sake, you address me as my employees do, as Mr. Murray, as you have shown the ultimate disrespect to the heroes who have died and were maimed last Thursday, August 16, and whose bodies I helped recover with my own hands, in referring to me as 'this guy' and that you are going to 'take every dollar."'
Murray admitted in the letter that his financial future is uncertain at this point.
"At this time, we are worrying about how we are going to keep UtahAmerican going from a financial standpoint due to this tragedy, and, in fact, all of Murray Energy. Every dollar has been spent that I have in my 'bank account."'
Murray said the governor has falsely assumed that the recent "emotional statements" from the families of the trapped miners are indicative of the feelings of all Utahns.
"We have always done our best, and they see that," he wrote.
Asked for a response to the letter, the governor's office said they would not engage Murray in personal attacks.
"The governor is concerned only with the families and the communities who have been affected by this terrible tragedy," Huntsman spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said Friday. "The governor is focused on the future and the things that can be done from here on to ensure closure for the families and the health and safety of all Utahns, especially those miners."
Union reps
Congressional hearings are slated for next month and federal investigations will be conducted. Huntsman has already appointed a special Mine Safety Commission to look at the safety of all of Utah's mines and wants an independent investigation into the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster.
Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, said the letter could be a sign that emotions have gotten too high on all sides.
"I think Mr. Murray ought to face the fact that (the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration) is going to investigate and the state's going to be alongside them," he said.
Dmitrich was recently appointed to the governor's commission. He said Murray's threat about jobs may not amount to much.
"I don't think he has that many employees," Dmitrich said, referring to the 700 jobs Murray said were in danger. "I'm sure they'd want to work in a safe environment."
The families of the six trapped miners are now letting a union represent them in any talks about rescue and recovery efforts. On Friday, the United Mine Workers of America served the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and Murray Energy Corp. with papers outside the Crandall Canyon Mine, putting them on notice.
"We would be designated as miners' representatives for the purpose of any discussions of rescue operations or recovery efforts," said UMWA spokesman Phil Smith.
A similar thing happened during the Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia. Murray has repeatedly lashed out at the labor union, accusing them of spreading rumors, misinformation and trying to unionize the non-union Crandall Canyon Mine.
The UMWA refused to say who signed the papers, fearful of recrimination by mine officials.
"They're concerned about repercussions, as are we," Smith said.
Local union reps told the Deseret Morning News earlier this week that all six families had signed the consent forms. Relations between Murray and the families have frozen since he announced that he would not continue the rescue effort because of the danger involved to others.
'Leave No Man Behind'
Mine officials and MSHA representatives met Friday afternoon at Murray Energy Corp.'s West Ridge Mine to go over safety plans for other mines the company runs in Utah, said Rep. Brad King, D-Price.
During a briefing Friday afternoon with the families of the trapped miners, King said they were told drilling had stopped for some time Friday because of the condition of the mountain.
"They are understandably distressed, but they are very good people. They still have faith and hope that some good will happen, but of course they know time is of the essence," he told the Deseret Morning News. "They know this is an industry where there is a possibility you don't come home at night. Those mines are regulated and regularly inspected, and you just expect when the mine is inspected they do a thorough job."
Drilling had resumed on the sixth hole Friday night. MSHA officials said it had gone more than 740 feet toward a target depth of 1,783 feet.
Here in Utah's coal country, posters, signs and fliers have been put up chastising Murray for wanting to end the rescue effort. They are beginning to rival the number of flags at half-staff for the three men who died in last week's rescue attempt.
"Leave No Man Behind," proclaimed one flier for Friday night's charity benefit in Helper. "Community support is desperately needed drilling the 36-inch hole for a capsule to continue the search and rescue of our miners."
Tonight, a concert will be held in Emery Park in Castle Dale to benefit the families of the trapped miners. It is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Contributing: Leigh Dethman and Wendy Leonard
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com