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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
MSHA News Release: [08/12/2003]
Contact Name: Rodney
Brown
Phone Number: 432
MSHA Issues Quecreek Investigation Report
SOMERSET, Pa.—The Mine
Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today issued its investigation report
into a mine inundation that led to the dramatic rescue of nine coal miners
after three days entrapped in the Quecreek Mine last July.
“We need to learn from what happened at Quecreek and prevent a
similar ordeal for miners and their families in the future,” said Dave D.
Lauriski, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Our
goal is to send every miner home safely at the end of every working
day.”
MSHA found that the primary cause of the water inundation was use of an
undated and uncertified mine map of the adjacent, water-filled Harrison No. 2
mine that did not show the complete and final mine workings. Using this map led
to inaccurate depiction of the Harrison No. 2 mine workings on the Quecreek # 1
mine map required by MSHA and on the certified mine map submitted to the state
of Pennsylvania in the permitting process. The root cause was the
unavailability of a certified final mine map for Harrison No. 2 in the state of
Pennsylvania’s mine map repository.
After the Quecreek incident, MSHA alerted the mining industry on the
inundation hazard, reviewed plans of underground mines operating near abandoned
works, and worked with mine operators to provide additional protective measures
where needed. The agency has participated in demonstrations of technology with
potential to detect mine voids and has sponsored two technical symposiums to
share information. MSHA expects to award $6 million in grants later this year
for demonstration projects on technology addressing this issue, and another $4
million for mine map digitization programs. MSHA also is working with the
Office of Surface Mining and state mine agencies towards a more effective
overall system for archiving and digitizing mine maps and is distributing a
public service announcement asking the public to share old mine maps in their
custody.
Black Wolf Coal Company, Musser Engineering, Inc., and PBS Coals, Inc.
each received one citation for a violation of federal mine safety standards in
using the inaccurate and outdated map. The investigators noted, “The final
map may not have been available… but other information… would
indicate that the boundaries used were questionable.” Penalties for the
violations will be determined at a later date.
On July 24, 2002, miners working underground in the Quecreek mine
accidentally broke into an adjacent abandoned mine, which unleashed millions of
gallons of water and trapped nine men for three days. MSHA provided technical
expertise, leadership and rescue equipment as rescuers drilled 240 feet to
reach the men and pull them to the surface. MSHA promotes safety and health in
the nation’s mines through enforcement, education and training, and
technical assistance. The Quecreek investigation report is available on
MSHA’s website at www.msha.gov.
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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
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