Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993 TAG: 9305120207
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS and DOUGLAS PARDUE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The investigation also found 25 violations of state mining laws at the Southmountain Coal Co. No. 3 mine, where the men died around 6:30 a.m. near the end of their shift.
Thirteen of the violations at the small nonunion mine were found to be directly related to the explosion, including problems with the mine's ventilation and roof-support systems.
The investigation report - five months in the making - will be released to the public today at the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy office in Big Stone Gap.
Families of the dead miners and members of a task force appointed by Gov. Douglas Wilder to oversee the state's investigation of the explosion received copies of the report on Tuesday.
A summary of the report's conclusions was released to the news media late Tuesday afternoon.
In centering on the cigarette lighter as the spark for the explosion, investigators identified and eliminated all other possible ignition sources in the working area of the mine, the report says.
Investigators reported finding lighters, cigarettes and cigarette butts on and around the dead miners. Federally law strictly forbids carrying smoking materials into coal mines.
But one of the main causes of the explosion, according to the report, was the accumulation of methane in abandoned areas of the mine which then migrated to the place where the victims were working.
Failure to adequately control coal dust inside the mine by covering it with powdered limestone, known as "rock dust," also contributed to the explosion, the report says.
An initial methane explosion stirred coal dust into the air, which in turn ignited and carried the force of the explosion roughly a mile to the outside of the mine, the report says.
Harry Childress, the state's chief mine inspector, said in a statement that his Division of Mines has taken enforcement action against Southmountain for 13 violations of mine safety laws directly related to the explosion and for 12 other violations.
Childress said he also plans to discuss the state's investigation with Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Tim McAfee for possible legal action.
Max Kennedy, a United Mine Workers official who sits on the task force overseeing the explosion, said McAfee probably will hold off on any charges until the state sees what action the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration plans.
State law at the time of the explosion carried misdemeanor charges for violations of safety law, Kennedy said. Federal criminal penalties are stiffer, though state law was toughened during the past session of the General Assembly.
Charges also will be referred to the state Board of Mine Examiners against employees of the Southmountain mine who hold state mining certificates issued by the board, Childress said.
According to the report, methane accumulated in abandoned areas of the mine because those areas were not properly ventilated and the mine lacked adequate controls for movement of air.
Also contributing to the methane buildup were the closeness of the coal seam being mined to another gaseous coal seam above the mine, and the failure of mine supervisors to comply with the plan the state had approved to control roof falls. Falling rock from the mine roof can block critical air passageways in a mine.
Investigators also found that mine employees responsible for measuring the mine air for the presence of explosive methane had failed to make required weekly examinations in their entirety, failed to examine the mine for methane before the start of work shifts and failed to keep proper records of the condition of the mine's ventilation system.
Although not excusing smoking in the mine, Joe Main, safety chief for the United Mine Workers, said it's important to remember that the critical issue in the investigation is how methane was allowed to build up in the mine.
Methane, an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas, occurs naturally in coal mines. Mine ventilation systems are designed to carry gas out of mines, keeping it at nonexplosive levels.
Three UMW officials are members of the task force overseeing the investigation.
Liz Mullins, widow of Mike Mullins, said, "We've been expecting that since day one" - that investigators were going to blame the explosion on the miners. The mine wouldn't have blown up if methane hadn't been allowed to build up, she said.
Mickey Mullins, Mike Mullins' brother, said the disaster is what happens when people are desperate for jobs and companies are willing to do whatever is necessary to make money.
"It happens every day back here in the coalfields and I think they just got caught up. . . . Shortcuts happen every day. . . . I don't think they knew it was as dangerous as it was."
Jim Robinson, head of the governor's task force, said he was not surprised by the conclusions in the report. "I kind of guessed it would like that," as a result of the reports earlier during hearings on the state investigation, he said.
Robinson said the task force would meet May 21 to go over the report and come up with recommendations for improving the state's system for dealing with mine safety and mine inspections.
Childress, in Tuesday's news release, also praised his staff for its work on the investigation.
The state has done a "thorough and complete report," Childress said. He declined further comment until the report is made public.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB