Wednesday, November 5. 2008

Poor Maps Lead to Maximum Fines in Quecreek Disaster

Administrative Law Judge Robert Lesnick fined PBS Coal Inc. and Musser Engineering $55,000 for their negligence which led to nine deaths in the mine in 2002.

The judge found that the companies "knowingly mapped the Quecreek No. 1 Mine based on questionable information, knowingly placed their production agenda ahead of caution, and then directed their miners into areas that tragically turn out to be 'undiscovered country.'"

...

The judge found that Musser used an inaccurate map to determine where to mine, and later got a second map that was not dated or marked final by a surveyor. Given the uncertainty, the judge said, "A reasonably prudent person would have erred on the side of safety and taken additional precautions."

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That beats the US Mine Safety and Health Administration by $1,111.11 per life.

Life is cheap in DC, apparently.

#1 August West on 2008-11-05 12:07 (Reply)

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