September 28, 2011

Federal regulators issued 356 citations and orders during the latest round of special mine inspections.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday the inspections were conducted at 16 coal mines and four other mines in August.

Hidden Splendor Resources Inc.'s Horizon Mine in Helper, Utah, was cited for 33 violations after MSHA inspectors secured the communication system to prevent advance notice of the inspection. Violations included a failure to maintain ventilation devices, high coal dust accumulations and hazardous conditions on the underground conveyor belts.

Another inspection at the Upper Cedar Grove No. 4 mine in Logan County, W.Va., resulted in seven citations and eight orders.

The agency started the special inspections after 29 miners died in an explosion at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine in April 2010.