Thursday, August 26, 2010
MSHA Says Meter Detected Explosive Methane Levels
WEST VIRGINIA....
Mine Safety and Health Administration official Kevin Stricklin says a handheld meter found deep inside the Upper Big Branch mine detected explosive 5 percent levels of methane before a blast killed 29 miners -- the first concrete evidence of dangerous concentrations of gas ahead of the April 5th disaster. Methane isn't explosive unless it makes up 5 percent to 15 percent of the atmosphere. While a preliminary report issued by MSHA in April blamed methane and coal dust for the explosion, investigators continue to scour the underground mine to find where the blast started and what may have caused it. Massey general counsel Shane Harvey says the monitor shows the mine's methane level going from zero to 5 percent in 3 minutes, and that's why Massey believes there was a sudden inundation of methane.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:09 AM 
