Senate panel issues subpoena for Utah mine owner

[Poiuyt]

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Subpoena directs Bob Murray to appear before the subcommittee December 4
Murray's company runs the Crandall Canyon mine, where six men were entombed
Three other people were killed during the rescue effort in August
Lawmaker: "We're going to get to the bottom of what went on there"

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Senate subcommittee probing this summer's deadly Utah mine disaster has subpoenaed the mine's co-owner, ranking member Sen. Arlen Specter said Friday.

The subpoena for Bob Murray -- CEO and president of Murray Energy Group -- directs him to appear before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services on December 4.

Murray Energy operates the Crandall Canyon mine, where six miners were entombed in an August 6 collapse.

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"Murray is an indispensable witness, and, candidly, he really flouted the authority and responsibility of the United States Senate to have his testimony to find out what happened so we could do our utmost to prevent future occurrences."

Murray failed to appear at a September 5 subcommittee hearing on the incident, Specter said.

At the time, Specter and committee chairman Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, "stressed the importance of Murray's testimony to preventing future mine disasters and indicated they would subpoena the mine owner if necessary."

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http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/16/congress.crandallmine/index.html