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WASHINGTON - Family members of the miners and rescuers killed in Utah's Crandall Canyon publicly lambasted the mine owners and federal safety regulators Wednesday for ignoring the ill-fated mine's warnings.
"I feel there was a lot this mountain was telling people, that this is not right," testified Kristen Kimber, whose ex-husband, Brandon, died in the second cave-in trying to rescue the six trapped miners, now entombed in the mine.
Soon after the emotionally charged congressional hearing that featured testimony from survivors displaying photos of their fallen loved ones, the federal agency charged with mine safety defended itself against criticism that it failed to keep families informed and allowed the sometimes combative mine co-owner Robert Murray to run the show.
"My goal was to treat the family members the way I would want my family to be treated. That's what I tried my best to do," MSHA director Richard Stickler told reporters in a conference call.
Stickler said he tried to counsel Murray against "inappropriately" answering families' questions and later even asked Emery County Sheriff Lamar Guymon to bar Murray from the family crisis center.
"From that point forward, Mr. Murray did not attend the family briefings," Stickler said.
"I know there was some problems with . . . the way he addressed the family members," Stickler said. "I think part of it was just an aggressive personality."
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told the House Education and Labor Committee that he and others were frustrated by the lack of authority MSHA had over the mine rescue operation.
"I expect MSHA parachuting in out of a C-130 [military plane] with authority and clearly defined lines of decision-making," Huntsman told the committee. "It didn't appear to be that way."
Huntsman, however, praised the committee for asking the families to testify, the most public statement yet by relatives of the mine victims. Huntsman said during a break that the hearing was a "a very healthy, if not cathartic, thing."
"These families have been looking for a voice and this has given them a voice," Huntsman said.
Sitting before a dark wood table under the glare of lights, targeted by television cameras, family members tried to remain stoic while testifying.
Sheila Phillips, whose son Brandon was trapped in the initial collapse, held Brandon's son, Gage, in her arms and cried during nearly all of her remarks.
"I want to speak on how we miss Brandon and how we do not want this to happen to anyone else," she said, pausing intermittently. "It is hard to have hope only to have your heart broke."
Steve Allred, a disabled coal miner who lost his brother Kerry in the first cave-in, testified about the lack of oversight by MSHA and the fact the mine was not represented by a union. "Our lives have changed forever," he said, behind a picture of his brother in coal dust-shaded coveralls beside a longwall mining machine.
After his testimony, Allred said it was "satisfying" to come to Washington to deliver his message firsthand and he hopes it will spur more enforcement of mining violations.
"I do believe that we are on the right track," he said. "They always say that some good comes out of bad. Unfortunately that's the case. But there will definitely be some good that will come out of this."
Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., vowed there would be changes made and noted he will bring up legislation strengthening mining laws for a vote this month. The committee, under Democratic rule since January, held two hearings on mine safety before the Crandall Canyon tragedy and Miller said he knew they needed to do more work to protect miners.
"It was just predictable as the sun comes up that we're going to sit in this committee room with another set of families," he said. Nonetheless, he added, "this committee is dedicated to getting this right."
Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., apologized to the families and promised that they would work to improve miner safety as a "fitting memorial" to the fallen miners.
"I know that the words 'we are sorry' feel really hollow," Andrews said. "But we are sorry that so much of your government has let you down."
* Family members testify, criticizing the mine owner and MSHA for failing to do enough to protect miners.
* The mine safety agency's head defended MSHA's treatment of the families. He also revealed his request for the local sheriff to keep mine co-owner Robert Murray out of family briefings.
* Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., promises swift action on mine safety legislation.