The Man Behind the Utah Mine Collapse
The six miners now trapped in a coal mine in Utah were working for Murray Energy, whose owner has become one of the most outspoken—and unhinged—spokespeople for coal power in the last year, as the dirty energy source has come under increasing scrutiny. Coal is the largest single contributor to greenhouse-gas pollution—but Mr. Murray denies that fossil fuels cause global warming.
Murray has used his platform as spokesman in the tragedy to continue his defense of the industry. On Tuesday, he delivered what the Washington Post called “a general paean to coal,” threatening that, “Without coal to manufacture our electricity, our products will not compete in the global marketplace…and people on fixed incomes will not be able to pay for their electric bills.”
Murray also adamantly denied that the “retreat” method of mining which was used in the section that collapsed had anything to do with the accident. Retreat mining involves taking the last bits of coal from pillars that hold up the roof, and result in—ideally controlled—collapses. Murray has blamed the collapse on an earthquake, though seismologists say vibrations were caused by the collapse, not vice-versa.
Murray’s unconventional approach has drawn criticism from the Democratic chairs of two House committees that oversee labor issues. Reps. George Miller and Lynn Woolsey pressed the Labor Department to assume the spokesman role because Murray’s statements do “not meet [the] standard” for such emergencies.
But it should be said that the Democrats and Mr. Murray have no love lost. Murray has given heavily to Republicans, including, according to the Post, $100,000 last year alone from his political action committee to GOP congressional candidates.He has used his ties with important Republicans—particularly Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose wife, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, oversees mine safety—to avoid facing the music for safety violations. The Utah mine’s safety record was fairly average, despite fines for safety violations in the hundreds of thousands, but nationally, Murray’s mines have a shoddy safety record. When confronted in 2002 with safety violations, Murray threatened to have the inspectors fired, referring to his close friendship with McConnell. “The last time I checked,” he said, “he [McConnell] was sleeping with your boss.”
Great guy, huh? Would you trust him with your life?
5 Responses to “The Man Behind the Utah Mine Collapse”
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August 9th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
We need to take responsibilty for these madmen and either educate him, which seems unlikely, or work as insanely in the opposite direction. Close him down!!
August 13th, 2007 at 7:56 am
While my heart goes out to the victims of the mine collapse and their loved ones as well as my prayers—I truly believe what has happened here is a direct message from the universe and the almighty that this form of degradation to the environment and to the working class is no loneger acceptable and must be stopped! Shut this immoral detriment to decent society down!
August 16th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I do not know how much you people know about the coal mining industry but there is alot of risks involved (as with most jobs) and unfortunately major accidents do happen sometimes but if you do the math, there is alot more people killed in car wrecks each year than in coal mines. Now, everytime a disaster happens in a coal mines, people start running their mouths about trying to stop mining, I have never once heard anyone talk about stopping using vehicles. Why is that? And if we stopped the coal mining, exactly where are we going to get all of our electricity that we usually daily from? Next time you walk in a room and flip on a light switch, thank a coal miner! or the next time that it is 100+ degress outside and you walk in your house with the air conditioning running and it is nice and cool, thank a coal miner!!!!! because without coal, we would be living in the dark!!!!
August 17th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Actually, Melanie, we at RAN *are* talking very seriously about stopping using vehicles. And if you support coal miners–vs. mine owners who skimp on safety–we’re on the same side. Their jobs are unnecessarily dangerous. Jobs in green energy would be safer for them, and for the rest of us, without sending us back to the dark ages.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I have e-mailed my senators and congressional reps that I want to have legislation passed to have benefits for those of us who would like to power our homes with windmills or solar panels. There already are some of these in effect, i.e. if you have a windmill in FLorida, all the excess power has to be purchased from you by the local power company. Wonderful! What I want now, is a break in the cost of installing a windmill or solar power panels for all residences and businesses, that is, all buildings. E.G. a discount for the items (windmills & power panels) as well as the labor to install these harvestors of natural energy (wind and sunshine). I live in Florida. Most of our days are sunny. The breezes are balmy, but could certainly move a windmill enough to generate enough power to cover all my needs. To have a windmill installed is many thousands of dollars, as are solar panels, too. This makes them cost prohibitive for the average home owner. I have yet to see any legislation from my representatiaves or senators helping lower the cost of the initial installation of these harvesters of natural energy happen. What does it take to get the ball rolling? Do citizens have to die by the thousands in order to get our legislators reved up? I thought they ran for office because they wanted to help their constituants and make a difference for mankind. Perhaps I misunderstood them. Does dirty coal have to make them and their families ill before they act? It’s too late then. We need to have things done now. We need to clean up now before things get any worse, and we need to have the cost of these things to be feasable. During the first half of the 20th century, we had hot water in our home generated by a solar panel on the roof of our home. We never ran out. We were on the right track then. What has happened since? This is the 21st century. We should have advanced far since the last century. We just dropped the ball. Let’s get busy and make Green work.