Mine Expert says West Virginia Tragedy Not Like to Happen in Missouri

An expert from the state’s foremost school on mining believes Missouri’s lead mines are not vulnerable to the same hazards that caused the deaths of a dozen miners in West Virginia this week. Larry Grayson with the University of Missouri-Rolla says, first of all, the mines here have very good safety records. Grayson says part of that is due to the nature of Missouri lead mines. They’re taller and wider, and they don’t have poisonous methane gas and explosive coal dust such as the coal mines in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He does admit that accidents can still happen. Grayson says there are several mine rescue teams in the state to handle those types of problems.