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 Post subject: R&D Coal Company- 3 Charged in Mine Explosions
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:00 pm 
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Location: From Schuylkill County, PA living in Phoenix, AZ
Three charged with involuntary manslaughter in mine explosions.
From Staff Reports
04/11/2008

The state Attorney General's Office has filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the owner and operator of R&D Coal Company, as well as two others, in connection to two mine explosions at the Buck Mountain Mine, Tremont Township, that injured two miners and killed one.
A grand jury found that mine owner and operator David Zimmerman, 52, of Pine Grove, and mine foreman, Steven Zimmerman, 32, of Pine Grove, allowed dangerous conditions to exist at the Buck Mountain Mine, resulting in the explosion on Dec. 1, 2004, in which two miners were seriously injured, and another explosion on Oct. 23, 2006, in which miner Dale Reightler was killed.
David Zimmerman and Steven Zimmerman are both charged with involuntary manslaughter, causing or risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy, and violation of the Anthracite Coal Mine Act. David Zimmerman was also charged with tampering with evidence.
Additionally, miner Jeffrey Klinger, 42, Tremont, who detonated the blast which killed Reightler, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, causing or risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, and violations of the Anthracite Coal Mine Act. The grand jury concluded Klinger did not follow proper safety procedures prior to detonating the shot that lead to Reightler's death.
All three individuals were arraigned Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Carol Pankake, and were released on $50,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24.

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:11 pm 
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i dont know enough of what "really happend" to have an opinion. heard lots of stories from many people involved and each is different in one way or another. accidents happen, but if there was negligence involved well thats another story.

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:20 pm 
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Location: Hard coal region, PA
a little excessive, don't you think?

I don't think they should be charged with anything outside the anthracite mine laws. Yeah, so they screwed up. Klinger is going to have a hard enough time just living with the fact that one of his buddies was accidentally killed through his hands. Now these guys are ending up in a world of trouble on top of the losses of their close co-workers...and for what reason? What is hitting them with all these BS crimes like "criminal conspiracy" going to accomplish?

Guess they just forgot to mention how the owner/operator of R&D already committed suicide because of the brutality of the government over the accident at his mine.

Thank you MSHA.

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:41 pm 
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I'll tell you what. I'm in the same boat as chris, you talk to different people and here different things about what was going on in that mine and it's hard to form an opinion. BUT I do know that there are soft coal mines five times the size of the biggest underground anthtracite operation, let alone R&D, that got away with a slap on the wrist from similar accidents. These men are being crucified, and as Banks said one did committ suicide over it. I'm glad I'm not the guy from MSHA that has to live with that on his shoulders.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:08 pm 
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Location: Above the Sterling Hill Mine
Its one thing charging the coal company, but going after the operators personally is a different story. Unless it was really negligence on behalf of the operators, putting them in jail doesn't really solve any problems. It only scares other mine operators from wanting to run businesses. Accidents happen, but I'd love to know what really happened. Perhaps this could be a little extreme, but it is hard to say that for sure without knowing all the facts.

Miner Greg


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:16 pm 
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Location: From Schuylkill County, PA living in Phoenix, AZ
I agree with Banks. I think it is a little excessive.

M.T.

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:27 pm 
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From what I understand of this, Himmelburger was being harassed big time by family members and friends of Dale's.
So they are also probably the ones pushing for this.

I got into a conversation with Jeff, at my sisters bar one night ( not knowing who he was or that he was involved in this) and he told me himself that this was the 3rd mine accident he was involved in. And that he was done with mining.
I don't know anything about the Zimmerman's.

I guess this is going to be the new way of the mining laws of the future.
It will probably clear the way for a civil suit against them. :cry:

Joanne


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:35 pm 
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Location: From Schuylkill County, PA living in Phoenix, AZ
Here's their mugshots from the Morning Call:
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(Left to Right) David Zimmerman , Steven Zimmerman and Jeffrey Klinger (Special to The Morning Call / April 16, 2008)

I feel bad for these guys.....

M.T.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:32 pm 
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Location: Hard coal region, PA
I heard that Stu Himmelberger wasn't even at the mine when it happened..? He was at Orchard I thought.

Just terrible...

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:51 am 
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Location: Forty Fort, Pa
Here are some reports

www.fmshrc.gov/decisions/alj/pn2005-213.html



And here is one form MSHA's website

www.msha.gov/FATALS/2006/FTL06c42.asp

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:55 am 
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And did this explosion take place before or after Hard coal was filmed

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:04 pm 
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Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
after.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:47 pm 
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Location: My own little hole in ground.
Just another attempt from MSHA to try and shut down Anthracite mining all together.

Just the kind of news I needed to hear today...

~S

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:47 pm 
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I was right about Jeff Klinger, this is the 3rd mining accident he was involved in.
A few years ago a guy got his arm hurt really bad (though I do not know at this time who or what happened) and then the 2 w/ Reightler.

The whole situation is sad..............


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:13 pm 
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Location: Hard coal region, PA
there was a short in the scranton times about it yesterday. said the same stuff as the posted article

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