What should the do at the Utah mine?

[JerryNumbers]

There is already talk of reopening the mine in Utah, but sealing off the area where the miners were trapped.

Should they start back mining before the miners are found, and just give up.

Are should they search for them until they are found.

[LAF]

I honestly don't know .I don't know why they can't seem to find them ,you would think they would have all kinds of gadgets to use .

[Anon]

I didn't vote.... three rescuers lost their lives already, I don't see a problem with allowing the mine to be their tomb. There's no way they are still alive after this amount of time. Its not necessarily fair to continue to risk lives to find bodies they have no idea where they are.

I don't know enough information though to know whether or not they should keep other parts of the mine open.

[pneu-engine]

Shut the whole thing down and put a grave marker on it. A very nice one, mind you, but a grave marker nevertheless.

[John81]

Many of the "experts" would agree with PE. They say the entire mountain, thus the entire mine area, is unsafe. According to some, reopening the mine would be just as dangerous as attempting to dig their way to where they think the miners were lost.

However, if they determine to reopen the mine, I believe the owners have an obligation to do what they can to recover the lost miners as they promised the families they would. "If" they could locate where the miners are, it's possible that a capsule hole could be dug and they could be recovered that way.

"If" they can be found doing the hole drilling process (which thus far has turned up nothing) that's something to consider. However, from what the "experts" say about the condition of the mine and mountain, it would seem attempting to dig their way to them (which, as Suzy pointed out, has already cost three more lives) would be foolhardy.

[bibletotingunslinger]

I know some involved, I and they agree with what yall said.
So does the Mine Owner and MSHA.
The LIBERAL MEDIA on the other hand is desperate to lay blame on anyone they can for anything.

Many of us have dangerous occupations, the fact is those miners were safer in that mine than on Highway 6 west out of Price.
I won't take time to do it but I bet we lost more truckers on Highway 6 in 5 years than we did in the mine.
They are doing the best they can.

[Anon]

I know some involved, I and they agree with what yall said.
So does the Mine Owner and MSHA.
The LIBERAL MEDIA on the other hand is desperate to lay blame on anyone they can for anything.

Many of us have dangerous occupations, the fact is those miners were safer in that mine than on Highway 6 west out of Price.
I won't take time to do it but I bet we lost more truckers on Highway 6 in 5 years than we did in the mine.
They are doing the best they can.

I agree...I realize the family is grieving but I was thinking they were being a bit unreasonable blaming and being so angry even after three rescuers died in the effort. It was unreasonable for them to insist their loved ones are still alive.

[John81]

That's true Suzy.

Given the conditions in the mine, "if" (and we have no way of knowing) those six miners survived the initial tragedy, there is little chance they could have survived for very long.

They tell us the temperature where they think they are is about 58 degrees. That's cold if one is motionless at that temperature for very long. Not only that, but the oxygen levels have been shown to be minimal for life (meaning they could live, but not be conscious) or below.

If you are trapped in a mine and lose consciousness in 58 degrees you won't live long. Either the cold or, eventually, the lack of water (can't drink when unconscious) would bring about death.

I can understand the families wanting their loved ones bodies recovered; but to insinuate there is a good chance they are still alive at this point is not helpful.

[JerryNumbers]

Yes, its a dangerous job, that is for sure. But I really can't see giving up hope, of at least recovering them.

But, if they can't be recovered, shut the mine down completely.

Knowing that is the way it will be, that would give the owner the incentives to find them if at all possible.

But it seems, the owner is ready to go back mining, if I understand it right, just close that portion of the mine.

[Anon]

I can see risking your life to rescue a live person but I dunno about risking more lives just to recover bodies....

[IM4given]

I think my main concern at this point in the geological stability of the area. The mine owner claims there was a earthquake that caused the mine to collapse. Others have said the mine collapsed because of the way the coal was removed and it registered as if it were an earthquake.

If the mine is not stable, they should not send anyone and do mean anyone down to recover the bodies. However, if their is no ground movement - quakes and aftershocks - then they ought to do what they can for the families to get the men out of there so they can be given a Christian burial.

There is an unwritten miner's "code" that they promise each other not to leave them in the mine in such a situation. They all go in knowing the risks that they are taking and all of the families live with the knowledge that each trip into the mine could well be their last. The men doing the rescue also know and fully accept the risks that they are taking.

My uncle was a coal miner for many many years before the arthiritis in his back and knees forced him to retire. He is 6'4" tall - the tallest man on his crew, and he worked as a mechanic fixing and repairing the mining equipment down inside the mine shaft. He said it was like locking yourself in a coat closet and taking a car motor apart and putting it back together again.

The miners take each death very hard, and it is almost like when a police officer is killed and the whole Police Department comes to the funeral - because they all share the knowledge of their own mortality.

[JerryNumbers]

I think my main concern at this point in the geological stability of the area. The mine owner claims there was a earthquake that caused the mine to collapse. Others have said the mine collapsed because of the way the coal was removed and it registered as if it were an earthquake.

If the mine is not stable, they should not send anyone and do mean anyone down to recover the bodies. However, if their is no ground movement - quakes and aftershocks - then they ought to do what they can for the families to get the men out of there so they can be given a Christian burial.

There is an unwritten miner's "code" that they promise each other not to leave them in the mine in such a situation. They all go in knowing the risks that they are taking and all of the families live with the knowledge that each trip into the mine could well be their last. The men doing the rescue also know and fully accept the risks that they are taking.

My uncle was a coal miner for many many years before the arthiritis in his back and knees forced him to retire. He is 6'4" tall - the tallest man on his crew, and he worked as a mechanic fixing and repairing the mining equipment down inside the mine shaft. He said it was like locking yourself in a coat closet and taking a car motor apart and putting it back together again.

The miners take each death very hard, and it is almost like when a police officer is killed and the whole Police Department comes to the funeral - because they all share the knowledge of their own mortality.

Had a roommate and good friend in the Air Force whose father was a coal miner in Kentucky. I remember talking to him about coal mining. his father got caught in a cave in once, but they got him and the other out in a few days. he told me that had an unwritten code, not to leave no one in there. Seems they might not abide by it no more in modern America, sad.

I don't know if they are dead or not, and I don't believe anyone knows for sure, and I would think you would not give up until you know for sure.

And waiting, is a good way for them to die, if they happen to be still alive. It surely would be sad to find out later they were still living at this time, and they were not doing nothing to try and get to them.

[John81]

From what they are saying now, they are drilling a sixth hole and if nothing is found there, the rescue/recovery efforts will end because if they lost miners are not there, they have no idea of where else they could be.

They are also saying the entire mine will be shut down and sealed.

[JerryNumbers]

I read that, earlier I though I read where they would just shut down that portion and go back to mining

[sarcrew]

I think that the right thing has been done. A true and sincere search has been made. It's time to stop risking more lives and move on. If the site is to unstable - shut down, if it is not too unstable, resume operations. Eithr way the miners deserved the search and they deserve a decent grave marker.

Wayne