PBS高端访谈:西维吉尼亚州矿坑爆炸事故29人遇难

 　　JEFFREY BROWN: Finally tonight, new findings and charges in the investigation¹ of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia. It was the deadliest in the U.S. in four decades—29 men were killed on April 5, 2010, after an explosion at the mine then owned by Massey Energy.

　　Today, state mining officials issued 253 violations² against the company and released their final report. In it, they singled out two foremen, saying they repeatedly failed to clean conveyor belts or apply rock dust used to neutralize³ explosive coal dust, all leading to unsafe conditions.

　　And, just yesterday, federal prosecutors⁴ brought criminal fraud charges against the mine's former superintendent⁵ Gary May.

　　Now we walk through the latest with NPR's Howard Berkes.

　　He's been covering this story since the accident.

　　Howard, welcome to you.

　　So now we have this new state report. Is the picture fairly clear now on what happened that day? Walk us through what we know.

　　HOWARD BERKES, National Public Radio: Sure.

　　The state report didn't really add much to what we already knew, which was that this was a mine that was operated in a way that there was ignoring of fundamental safety operations, that safety procedures were flawed at that mine, that equipment didn't work properly, and that the management of the mine was more oriented to production than safety.

　　The state pretty much repeated what the early investigative reports have said, that this was caused by a methane⁶ ignition, that water sprayers were not functioning and failed to control methane gas, that there wasn't enough ventilation in the mine to control methane gas, and that that coal dust that you mentioned, there was so much of it, that a small, relatively⁷ small methane gas ignition exploded into this massive explosion that coursed through the mine because of the presence of all that coal dust.

　　JEFFREY BROWN: So, these—these charges of—against—findings about the foreman, I mean so it's a kind of systemic failure rather than a particular incident. And I gather the state is limited in what it can do at this point?

　　HOWARD BERKES: Well, it's interesting that in that state report, they noted⁸ that the maximum fine for those foremen, for these citations⁹, is $250, and that state law doesn't permit citing anyone above the level of mine foreman.

　　And those foremen didn't make up the way that they behaved in that mine. They were working at the direction of a mine superintendent, of the president and vice¹⁰ president of the Massey Energy subsidiary that ran that mine. And we know from documents that have been released in the investigation so far and in a deposition¹¹ by former CEO Don Blankenship in another case that this mine was micromanaged and that Blankenship and other senior officials at Massey Energy knew what was going on there.

　　They monitored the coal production by the foot and by the minute. And so, even though it's clear that these—that the superintendent who was charged yesterday and that the mine foremen who were mentioned in the state report today were not acting¹² on their own, it appears that it's very difficult in—certainly in state law in West Virginia to reach beyond the foreman to cite anyone else and get anyone else held responsible.

　　JEFFREY BROWN: Well, so tell us a little bit more about the federal side of this and that foreman Gary May. So, he's the highest official charged to this point.

　　What does that tell you? Is he cooperating at this point, or this a way to get to some of the higher-ups?

　　HOWARD BERKES: It certainly looks that way, based on the way this—these charges were filed.

　　Gary May wasn't indicted¹³. He was charged in a criminal information. And federal prosecutors use a criminal information when the defendant¹⁴ is cooperating and when they're trying to get testimony¹⁵ against higher-level officials. He was superintendent of the mine, or one of two superintendents¹⁶ of that mine.

　　And he was responsible for day-to-day operations for portions of that mine. But, again, he was somebody who was working at the direction of higher-level people at the subsidiary company that operated that mine and Massey Energy. He's not somebody who invented the—a way to operate that mine. He was working at their direction.

　　And so all indications are—prosecutors won't say this directly, but they hint that Gary May is cooperating and that they're working through him to get to higher-level officials.

　　JEFFREY BROWN: Well, so, finally, Howard, I know you've spent some time with families of miners. What do you hear from them these several years later?

　　HOWARD BERKES: They're still grieving deeply for their losses as if it just happened yesterday.

　　But they're encouraged by the fact that the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of West Virginia has filed this charge against Gary May. They're encouraged by the idea that they're trying to reach higher into the upper management ranks of Massey Energy.

　　And what they say to me over and over and over again is that justice won't be done here until somebody goes to jail. And if somebody does go to jail, it will be rare. And if somebody at a high level goes to jail, it will be even rarer.

　　Mining company officials don't go to jail for killing¹⁷ coal miners. It rarely happens. Prosecutors seem to be working with a way of trying to get at higher-level officials. And I know families will be relieved and feel that justice has been done if higher-level officials are charged.

　　JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Howard Berkes of NPR, thanks so much.

　　HOWARD BERKES: Thanks for having me.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

3 neutralize   

v.使失效、抵消，使中和

参考例句：

• Nothing could neutralize its good effects.没有什么能抵消它所产生的好影响。
• Acids neutralize alkalis and vice versa.酸能使碱中和碱，亦能使酸中和。

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

6 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 citations   

n.引用( citation的名词复数 )；引证；引文；表扬

参考例句：

• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Some dictionary writers use citations to show what words mean. 有些辞典的编纂者用引文作例证以解释词义。 来自辞典例句

10 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

11 deposition   

n.免职，罢官；作证；沉淀；沉淀物

参考例句：

• It was this issue which led to the deposition of the king.正是这件事导致了国王被废黜。
• This leads to calcium deposition in the blood-vessels.这导致钙在血管中沉积。

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

14 defendant   

n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的

参考例句：

• The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.法官拒收被告家属的贿赂。
• The defendant was borne down by the weight of evidence.有力的证据使被告认输了。

15 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

16 superintendents   

警长( superintendent的名词复数 )； （大楼的）管理人； 监管人； （美国）警察局长

参考例句：

• Unlike their New York counterparts, Portland school superintendents welcomed McFarlane. 这一次，地点是在波特兰。
• But superintendents and principals have wide discretion. 但是，地方领导和校长有自由裁量权。

17 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。