Because I do not believe in torture, I will only hope that this is not the end.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration has fined the operator of a Utah mine more than $1.3 million for violations that it says directly contributed to the death of six miners in August, 2007.
Because I do not believe in torture, I will hope instead for justice.
It didn't have to happen. The mountain served fair warning. Prior pillar bursts - two in March, another three days before that fateful night - were prescient.
The mine operator failed to report those bursts to MSHA, and neglected to revise the roof control plan to address deteriorating conditions in the mine, as required by law.
Because I do not believe in torture, I will hope instead for justice.
Now, Tiller said, "people need to be held accountable for their actions and decisions."
That includes MSHA officials, said Nancy Allred, Frank's wife. "There was nothing indicating any fault by MSHA, and I just can't believe it," she said, hours before an independent Labor Department review of MSHA harshly criticized the agency's handling of Crandall Canyon's mining plan.
Because I do not believe in torture, I will hope instead for justice.
A deadly 2007 coal mine collapse in Utah was triggered by a faulty mine design that left support pillars badly overburdened, federal investigators said on Thursday after a year-long investigation into the disaster. ... The mine's owner said at the time that the collapse was due to an earthquake in the area but federal investigators said on Thursday that no such quake was responsible.
Because I do not believe in torture, I will not wish on Bob Murray -- who sacrificed his men in pursuit of a few more dollars -- that he will know the crushing death that fell on them. I'll not wish that the families of those officials at MSHA -- who placed ideology over the lives of those they were sworn to protect -- know the loss suffered by the families of those miners.
But I will hope that this ends in a cell, not a fine. And if it's a small cell, and if it's dark, I think I'd be ok with that.