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I think you guys are right. In the 18 years I worked in the mines we never had anybody to deal with the media. Whenever something happened the company superintendent was always told to deal with the reporters. Of course we never had a disaster of this magnitude. Mine inspections and mine laws are done by two different agencies, state and federal, with the most stringent being the law you must abide with. Inspectors show up unannounced and stay for weeks at a time. In all fareness to the mine company, the number of violations they had is not uncommon . Also sometimes violations are petty (I got written up once when a state inspector went to shower and there was no soap)The way mine violations work, when you get one you must immediately correct the problem then the inspector abates the violation but it still goes on record as a violation. In the case of emminent danger violations, the working section or entire mine is shut down, only those repairing the problem are allowed in the area, and when complete the inspector abates it and everyone goes back to work. Im not just blowing smoke here. The mine I worked at was about an hour drive from this one and I worked daily with the fathers of two of the guys whgo didnt make it out.
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