West Virginia officials unveiled a truck today designed to respond to mining disasters such as the explosion at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine that killed 29 workers last April.
"The families of the UBB tragedy have said 'don't let this happen again,'" acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) said in a statement. "This mine rescue truck is our response to help fulfill that request."
The truck -- "Rapid Response Task Force 1" -- includes GPS for mapping mines and gas wells, military-grade communications equipment and labs for collecting and testing air samples.
"We have made sure that it is fully equipped to provide mine rescue teams with the tools needed to greatly improve a mine rescue operation if and when called upon in the future," Tomblin said. His office released the statements as the truck was put on display at the state Capitol in Charleston.
Families of mine disaster victims attended the unveiling, joining mine safety officials, including Kevin Stricklin with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
"This will tell us if a fire is burning. Is it smoldering? Is there no fire? It will give us a better feeling on whether to send rescue teams in and how quickly to send them in," Stricklin said, quoted by West Virginia MetroNews.
Meanwhile, a team led by J. Davitt McAteer, who was appointed by former Gov. and current Sen. Joe Manchin (D), is working on completing a state-level investigation into the Upper Big Branch disaster. McAteer led MSHA under President Clinton.
