Feds let miners' union, liaison to state in on probe

[Omaha Steve]

http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_7069177

PRICE - The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union will be allowed to participate in the federal investigation of August's Crandall Canyon mine disaster.

And the U.S. Department of Labor has appointed a liaison to keep the Utah Mine Safety Commission abreast of developments in the federal probe.

Federal officials announced those two developments Tuesday regarding the contentious investigation being conducted by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration into the disaster that killed six miners and three would-be rescuers.

MSHA earlier rejected a request by families of the six trapped miners to have the union act as their representative, saying regulations required the miners themselves to make the request.

But MSHA issued a statement late Tuesday that said "two or more" unidentified Crandall Canyon miners "have confidentially designated the UMWA as their representatives for the purposes of this investigation. MSHA welcomes their participation consistent with their full rights under the Mine Act."

The union will not participate in the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration investigation team's formal interviews with Crandall Canyon mine disaster witnesses. It will have access to the mine's underground workings in the vicinity of the disaster, said David James, a spokesman for the Department of Labor.

FULL story at link.