Safer Plan?

Coal mining seems to be a continuing element of American industry and an essential energy source, as well as in other countries. I wish we didn’t have to do it, but it goes on.

Here’s my curiosity: Without exception, after a collapse or other unexpected underground catastrophe, there are quickly- established drilling rigs to try to reach those trapped. These emergency drilling operations are costly and (from a strictly business standpoint) not budgeted. Planned in advance and drilled less frantically, why not incorporate the cost of drilling those holes in the investor’s/banker’s original term sheet and drill them in advance at a half dozen strategic locations before (or at least during) the original mining operation?

Has someone managed to put forth a genuinely legitimate reason why not or discovered and/or interpreted a regulation that seems to prohibit that practice? Not to trivialize the tragic outcomes we read about and view, but could it be as simple as the old tin can beers; use the “church key” to poke a small hole before you punch through the big one?

We hear about the importance of identifying, preparing for, and creating evacuation means and routes for potential personal emergencies. Since it appears that today’s mine operators can diagram precisely each shaft and cavity, why don’t pre- identified, pre-established, and, especially, pre-drilled escape/ evacuation/survival paths apply to mining?

Terry Young, Tulsa

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Originally published by Staff Reports.

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