MINE

Colo. county sees tourism in historic silver mine

A contaminated 19th century silver mining camp could become a bigger tourism draw for a sparsely populated, high-alpine county in southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

March 07, 2013

Gravel mine halted near historic ranch

A Montana businessman agreed Wednesday to halt development of a gravel mine near the site of Theodore Roosevelt’s historic Badlands ranch in western North Dakota.

July 19, 2012

Agency seeks $3.9 million to reclaim coal mines

The state Public Service Commission agreed Wednesday to seek $3.9 million in federal aid to continue reclamation work on two abandoned coal mines in western North Dakota.

January 05, 2012

3 miners rescued from Tenn. mine after fire

A fire broke out inside a zinc mine in Tennessee on Wednesday, trapping three miners inside for about three hours before they were rescued, authorities said. Two other miners below ground were injured by smoke inhalation.

December 29, 2011

Mine foes: Cramer should step aside

Opponents of a proposed coal mine near South Heart in southwestern North Dakota have asked two public service commissioners to step aside from making any decisions on the mining permit.

June 18, 2011

Regulators want more time for permit

State regulators said Friday they plan to take more time to review plans to open a new coal mine in southwestern North Dakota after a technical review found hundreds of deficiencies in the application.

By By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press , May 07, 2011

Machine arrives to aid rescuers at Idaho mine

Mining company officials brought in a remote-controlled digging machine Sunday to help try to reach a worker missing since a tunnel collapsed deep inside an Idaho mine.

April 18, 2011

Flood in China coal mine traps 28 workers

BEIJING (AP) — Rescuers were racing Monday to reach 28 people trapped while doing safety work in coal mine in southern China, the latest accident in the world’s deadliest mines.

November 22, 2010

Chile’s textbook rescue brings global respect

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile — Chile’s 33 rescued miners posed with the president and were poked by doctors on Thursday, itching to reunite with families and sleep in their own beds for the first time since a cave-in nearly killed them on Aug. 5. Relatives were organizing welcome-home parties and trying to hold off an onslaught of demands by those seeking to share in the glory of the amazing rescue that entranced people around the world and set off horn-blowing celebrations across this South American nation.

By By Frank Bajak, The Associated Press , October 15, 2010

Freedom Mine fined $1K for water disposal problem

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Coteau Properties Co. has been fined $1,000 for dumping pond water outside its Freedom Mine and causing some soil erosion.

September 23, 2010

Application for coal mine incomplete

State regulators are asking developers of a coal mine in southwestern North Dakota for more information in their permit application. The state’s Public Service Commission said South Heart Coal’s application lacks detail on several topics including financing, reclamation, and impacts to water and wetlands.

May 07, 2010

Application for ND coal mine incomplete

State regulators are asking developers of a coal mine in southwestern North Dakota for more information in their permit application.

May 06, 2010

Massey disaster not just tragic, but criminal

Massey Energy runs the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va., where 29 miners were killed last week. The loss of life is tragic, but the UBB explosion is more than tragic; it is criminal. When corporations are guilty of crimes, however, they don’t go to prison, they don’t forfeit their freedom — they just get fined, which often amounts to a slap on the wrist, the cost of doing business. No one makes this clearer than the CEO of Massey Energy, Don Blankenship. He has been the bane of climate-change activists and mine-safety advocates for years. This latest mine disaster, if nothing else, will surely bring needed attention to this poster boy for malevolent big business trampling on communities, the environment and workers’ rights.

By Amy Goodman, Hearst Newspapers , April 16, 2010

Blast probe awaits recovery

Federal investigators arrived Monday at the West Virginia mine where 29 men died in an explosion last week to begin piecing together what caused the worst U.S. coal mining disaster since 1970. Thirty miles to the north, hundreds of mourners including the governor observed a moment of silence at the state Capitol, during a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of a statue honoring the state’s miners. Karen Barker was among scores of state workers who attended the ceremony.

By By Lawrence Messina and Tim Huber, The Associated Press , April 13, 2010

Churchgoers honor 29 dead miners — and profession

A pair of tall black boots and a lunch pail sat near the altar Sunday at the New Life Assembly church — a memorial to the 29 men killed in the worst U.S. mining disaster since 1970 and a thank-you to those who make their living inside the mountains. This day, the first Sunday since last Monday’s explosion killed 28 workers and a contractor at Massey Energy Co.’s Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, was for many a time to honor the profession. Tears of mourning fell, and arms swayed in worship among the 50 people gathered at the church.

By By Vicki Smith, The Associated Press , April 12, 2010