LHHS Subcommittee Subpoenas Murray Energy CEO In Wake Of Utah Mine Disaster

Specter, Harkin Compel Mine Owner to Testify

Washington, D.C. -- November 16, 2007 - The Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) today issued a subpoena for Robert E. Murray, CEO of Murray Energy to testify before the Subcommittee on December 4, at 10am. Murray Energy owns the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah which collapsed in August, killing six miners. Three rescuers died while attempting to reach the miners.

Murray failed to appear at the Subcommittee’s September 5th hearing on the Utah mine disaster, despite indications to the contrary. At this hearing, Ranking Member Arlen Specter and Chairman Tom Harkin stressed the importance of Murray’s testimony to preventing future mine disasters and indicated they would subpoena the mine owner if necessary.

On Thursday, October 4th, the Subcommittee convened off the Senate floor to authorize the subpoena, an unprecedented event in the history of the Subcommittee.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of what went on there,” Specter said. “ Murray is an indispensable witness, and, candidly, he really flouted the responsibility and authority of the United States Senate to have his testimony to find out what happened so we could do our utmost to prevent future occurrences.”

Source: Senator Arlen Specter

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