State Officials Consider Their Role in Mine Safety

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah lawmakers received a detailed briefing on the Crandall Canyon Mine yesterday from federal officials. They asked some pointed questions that suggest they might feel some responsibility for mine safety in Utah - and could move the state toward taking more of that duty back from federal officials:

"We're gonna start making some policy decisions," said Representative Chris Herrod. "So, can you tell us how safe our mines are? Are they less safe than the industry in general?"

Herrod's question drew a vague response from Mine Safety and Health Administration official Kevin Stricklin, who said Utah mines appeared to have a fairly good safety record until the Crandall Canyon cave-in. Senate President John Valentine says lawmakers are definitely looking for their role in the aftermath of the tragedy, but not yet drafting legislation:

"There's a possibility that Utah will want to take some role in supervising mines, but we are really early in the process to determine whether we're going to do that or not," says Valentine. "This was the first official hearing to hear from people on the ground at the Crandall Canyon Mine."

Valentine says the legislature will work in tandem with the Utah Mine Safety Commission recently formed by the Governor. It's possible, notes Valentine, that lawmakers will move to make that commission permanent and give its members more oversight of Utah's mines.

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