Bush Administration Trying To Block Documents On Probe Of Utah Mine Disaster

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/09/bush-administration-tryin_n_67747.html


Lawyers for the federal safety agency overseeing the investigation into August's deadly cave-in at a Utah coal mine have gone to court to try to block a request by several media outlets to make the records from the probe available to the public.

A group of news organizations that includes CNN, the Associated Press and the Salt Lake Tribune sued Labor Secretary Elaine Chao in federal court in Utah, arguing that the investigation into the collapse at the Crandall Canyon mine should be open to the public.

A panel of experts convened by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which reports to Chao, has already begun interviewing witnesses and relatives of the victims.

"The public has a legitimate interest in and a right to know about the Accident and related matters, as well as the activities of the MSHA panel," wrote Salt Lake City attorney Michael Patrick O'Brien, who is representing the media outlets.

Lawyers for the Bush Administration countered this week that opening the investigation to the public would hamper the agency's efforts to learn what happened at Crandall Canyon. :wtf:

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/09/bush-administration-tryin_n_67747.html

[niyad]

1. it would hamper the efforts to HIDE what happened at crandall.

isn't it interesting that, in south Africa, all 3,200 miners were rescued? should we, perhaps, be bringing over their safety experts?

[babylonsister]

2. Exactly! Here's another disaster laid at this admin's feet. nt

[fasttense]

3. The bushes are just trying to protect the corporations and the CEOs who run this country.

Can't be giving out info on how corrupt and heartless these corporations and their owners are. If you do, then maybe the people will catch on that the bushes are just the front organization for a criminal gang of psychotic CEOs, board chairmen and financial mangers.

[shain from kane]

4. They have to protect Murray, or he might turn and start blabbing about Cheney's energy taskforce.

[Horse with no Name]

5. ding ding ding

:( And THAT is it in a nutshell. Quid Pro Quo. It's the Republican way.

[babylonsister]

6. Murray being this admin's incompetent 'recess appointment', another

* failure.

[shain from kane]

8. I was referring to this Bob Murray, part-owner of the Utah mine.

Energy Task Force Documents
Department of Energy's Summary of Task Force Meetings
Attended by Energy Secretary Abraham

Date of Meeting
Individual/Company

----------------------------
4/3/01
Robert Murray, American Coal Co.


Blair Gardner, American Coal Co.

[babylonsister]

9. Oops! Thanks. I was referring to Richard Stickler-my bad. From Rockefeller:

http://www.senate.gov/~rockefeller/news/2006/pr101906.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2006


ROCKEFELLER REACTS TO RECESS APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD STICKLER AS MSHA DIRECTOR

-Move by Bush Comes in the Face of Senate Opposition to Stickler’s Weak Record on Mine Safety-

Washington, D.C. – Even though Senators had raised serious doubts about Richard Stickler, the nominee to be Director of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), President Bush today circumvented the Senate by recess appointing Stickler. Following that appointment, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who helped craft this year’s MINER Act -- the most significant mine safety legislation in a decade -- issued the following reaction:

“President Bush today has essentially said that the safety of our miners in West Virginia and across the country is a not a priority. Over the course of the last year, U.S. Senators from Coal States across the country have said that Richard Stickler is not the right person to carry out this absolutely critical job. The mines he ran when he was in the industry were some of the most dangerous and most frequently cited for safety violations in the entire industry. His mines had a rate of preventable accidents that was as much as three times the national average. In fact, despite broad bipartisan support for new, more aggressive mine safety laws, Richard Stickler said in his Senate nomination hearing that no new laws were necessary.

“The MINER Act we passed earlier this year was the right first step toward protecting our miners. But the appointment of Richard Stickler today to enforce and carry out that law is the decidedly wrong decision.”

[me b zola]

7. In USA inc.

If Americans had access to public records the terrorists would win.