Cause For West Virginia Mine Disaster Eludes Safety Officials

The cause of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster that killed 29 workers this April continues to elude mine safety officials.

“The bottom line here is that we’re still pulling quite a bit of evidence and information from the mine … to the point that no conclusion can be reached at this time,” Joe Main, as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

The investigation into the West Virginia disaster has faced numerous setbacks. Deadly gasses prevented entrance into the mine for two months, and it is being reported that high methane levels led to an evacuation of the mine Tuesday evening.

Massey Energy, the company that owns the Upper Big Branch Mine, has suggested that an unforeseen spike in methane levels could be responsible for the disaster. Main said Wednesday that the company’s theory is being examined.

“It has been part of the investigative process,” Main said. “Coming to that conclusion at this stage I think is totally premature.”