A top federal mine official conceded Wednesday to Utah lawmakers that if the next boreholes do not reach six trapped coal miners, "there's a possibility that we may not be able to remove the miners from the mine."
If that happens, Murray Energy has said it will seal the mine, Kevin Stricklin said during a meeting on Utah's Capitol Hill of state legislators and newly appointed members of the governor's mine safety panel.
Stricklin, chief of coal mine safety for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, reviewed in great detail the pertinent events that have transpired since the Aug. 6 Crandall Canyon Mine collapse in Huntington.
Following his 45-minute account, he pledged to continue all efforts with the mind-set that this is still a rescue mission and reiterated there is hope the six trapped miners could still be found alive.
However, he tempered his remarks by stating that those efforts will last only as long as there are viable rescue options available.
Stricklin also said his agency has been in contact with the families and told them the agency will not risk any more lives to explore the mine unless there is verifiable proof that someone could be saved.
During a question-and-answer session, lawmakers asked Stricklin what will happen if it is determined the miners can't be saved or recovered.
"Basically, after the next couple of boreholes (are drilled), we'll really need to re-evaluate if there are any other options for us," he said, adding that "there's a possibility that we may not be able to remove the miners from the mine."
If that situation does occur, Stricklin says Murray Energy has said it will seal the mine. But that decision is a long way off, according to MSHA.
One potential rescue options is a manned capsule that could be lowered down into the mine, but Stricklin said the danger of collapse is too great right now to take the chance of losing another rescue miner. He estimates it costs about $1 million to drill each borehole, with Murray Energy footing the bill.
There are 50 to 60 MSHA contractors at the Crandall Canyon Mine involved in the ongoing rescue operation, and the agency's investigation team is expected to travel to Utah next week to start the probe into how the disaster might have happened.
Scott Matheson Jr., chairman of the newly appointed Utah Mine Safety Commission, said he expects his eight-member panel, state lawmakers and MSHA to work together to develop strategies to improve conditions at mine sites statewide.
He said hearing MSHA officials describe the rescue operation and lay out their strategies to continue their efforts was enlightening. "It put forth a context that helped all of us gain a better understanding," Matheson said.
In terms of what the Utah Mine Safety Commission's focus will be, he said, "It's important to understand that we're looking at practical suggestions for the role of the state in these circumstances."
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