Utah Insurance

The deepest mine in the United States, violently arrested a week after the establishment of the company was a huge success with finesse and security has been tested for other injuries in a mine nearby.

Utah American Energy Inc, said: “the exceptional conditions and unforeseen stress” forced to close for an indefinite period to seven miles Tower mine north of Price, Utah, for the safety of miners. Mine was beaten with $ 420,000 fines for “egregious” violations of safety risks explosives on March 20.

The Federal Constitution-Mine Safety and Health Administration, which includes a number of fines, March 28 for “flagrant” violations Ridge to the west of the coal mine, also in possession of American energy Utah , a subsidiary of the Company of Ohio-based Murray Energy Co. The privately held company was captured in front of the national stage last August, nine people died in two cave-ins with Crandall Canyon Mine, also in the coal Utah’s circle.

Companies can be assessed, a flagrant violation to a maximum of $ 220000 for a well-known risk that is not correcting or show an “utter disregard” of safety, “said Kevin Stricklin, who monitors the coal mine Security for MSHA. Her agency has refused to make a copy of the summons to West Ridge, until they are to the company.

American chairman of Utah, Bruce P. Hill, announced the closure of the mine in a round succinct statement. Obtained in his office, Hill refused to say whether the mine was closed for good or all other issues. Corporate officials had not yet by phone or e-mail.

Joel Piccolo Prix mayor said he would be surprised if energy Murray abandoned mine site, the tower.

“The resource is too rich. Thanks to the new technology on the road, I guarantee it will be completed as mine. It’s tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said.

But mine de la Tour, 2750 meters deep, was infested by explosive methane emissions, “said Dave Tabet, energy, minerals and program for the Utah Geological Survey.

“As they were increasingly profound that they have more gas and had more time, ventilation, and they do not produce as much coal,” said Tabet. “For a while ‘ extinction of the computer to drill more ventilation shafts. Maybe they were problems with bounce. ”

A rebound is a forced displacement in a mountain. Mountain people say they feel a Rebound in his bones when falling rocks shalt not kill. Utah’s coal mines of thousands of compensation Bounces one year, as a low-magnitude earthquakes, said Walter Arabasz, director of the University of Utah’s seismographic stations.

It was not clear, such as methane and unstable soil has played in the decision of the business of the mine closed, a city councilor, City of Huntington, but Julie Jones said: “I heard that some the coal miners say if it is not shut it down would blow up gasartig Because it. She knew that it was dangerous to a mine. ”

The Tower Top of Mine employs 200 people and produces more than 2 million tons of coal per year, “said Tabet. American Utah said, there would be a lot to transfer minors Tower Ridge in the West or other mining, energy Murray in Ohio and Illinois.

Many miners went Utah, firings and through regular Murray, however, have refused to energy for the Midwest.

“The miners live here, who work here, here again,” said Piccolo.

State unemployment officials, they do not know, like many people of the mountain, at the end of a job to lose, but Piccolo said, the number could be significant.

“It makes it much more difficult for families to keep their homes and cars, and the life they deserve,” he said. “It’s not a good thing.”

The closure was one day at the University of Utah have presented scientists on the dangers of deep coal production at a conference held at the federal level, the Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake City.

William Pariseau, a professor of mechanical engineering in the mining industry, which determines the strength of coal barriers near the tower was significant enough to the mine, but his analysis does not take into account the geological conditions that can contribute cave-ins.

“If these companies say they see things that the difficulties, and they will not continue, because it is not secure, as I believe them,” said Kim McCarter, president of the University Department of Mining Engineering.

Utah said American Tower, the deepest pit operating in the United States. At this depth, the mountain is at the mine with a strength of 3025 pounds per square inch, McCarter said.