Huntsman Pushes for Access to Mine Probe Materials

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Federal mine safety officials are refusing to share information from their Crandall Canyon Mine investigation with a Utah commission set up by Governor Jon Huntsman. In a televised press conference today, Huntsman says he will visit Washington next week to demand more collaboration:

"All we're looking for is sharing - in real-time - information that might be helpful to our state efforts," says Huntsman.

The Governor says Assistant Secretary of Labor Richard Stickler promised him during the Crandall Canyon rescue efforts that federal investigators would share information with the state commission. But a letter from the Department of Labor says sharing material could jeopardize the investigation or result in prejudicing witnesses, especially since Huntsman's commission includes a representative of the Utah Mining Association, which represents owners of the Crandall Canyon Mine.

Huntsman says there should still be room for coordination between the two investigations:

"We're just asking for a connection here so we don't do something that's already being done - wasting time and resources," says Huntsman. "I think a periodic spot-check will help us pool information that will be helpful for both groups."

Huntsman will make that request in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Labor and plans to testify on the issue in Washington next Wednesday during a meeting of the U.S. House Labor and Education Committee.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW