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Enzi Calls Crandall Canyon Findings "Disturbing" Says Those at Fault for Mine Tragedy Must Be Held Accountable


Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-WY, Ranking Member of theSenate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), issued thefollowing statement on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA)investigation into the accident at Crandall Canyon Mine, which the Department of Laborreleased today: “MSHA’s report includes a number of very disturbing findings. It appears fromthis report that these tragic fatalities might have been preventable. Those at fault for thistragedy must be held accountable,” Enzi said. “My deepest sympathies go out to the families of the miners and rescue workerswho lost their lives at Crandall Canyon last year. To miners and their families, nothing ismore important than safety – and safety must be our highest priority. I plan to review thefindings of this investigation thoroughly to determine what lessons we can learn. We canhonor those whose lives have been lost by acting to ensure that the tragedy will not berepeated.”As the agency’s final report was issued today, MSHA announced that it wouldlevy over $1.6 million in fines for the operator of Crandall Canyon Mine and $220,000for the engineering consulting company the mine’s operator relied upon.Six miners were killed in an accident at the Utah mine on August 6, 2007. Twomine employees and an inspector with the Mine Safety and Health Administration diedten days later during rescue efforts.####