Another 12 percent came for failure either to test or properly maintain electrical equipment (sparks among methane and coal dust can also cause fires). Another 5 percent of the S&S violations came from not properly maintaining incombustible rock dust designed to prevent explosions.

And 4 percent came for unsafe accumulation of grease-like or flammable liquids. A total of 56 different types of S&S violations were issued in Utah mines since 2004, ranging from not keeping escapeways clear of obstructions to failing to have rescue crews available or not having proper ventilation in work areas.

A typical Utah mine received just under 400 violations since 2003. Crandall Canyon was actually better than average, with 325. The Aberdeen Mine, also controlled by Bob Murray, co-owner of the Crandall Canyon Mine, had the most: 785. The Pinnacle Mine, also controlled by Murray, where production is winding down, had the least: 30.

Of course, that was what was found only on inspection days. Federal law requires underground coal mines to be inspected four times a year. Inspections are never announced. Depending on a mine's size, quarterly inspections may last days, weeks or longer. In some cases, mines are so large that MSHA inspectors are on site 365 days a year, Louviere said.

MSHA officials say some mines have more violations simply because inspectors are on site more often. To try to better compare apples to apples, the Deseret Morning News figured a rate of violations per "inspection event number" listed by MSHA. (Utah mines each had between 50 to 300 "inspection events" of varying types listed since 2004).

On average, inspectors found four violations per inspection event at Utah mines, and 1.5 of them were serious. The highest and lowest rates were at mines operated by Murray. The Horizon Mine had a rate of 9.1 violations per inspection event (with 4.1 as serious), and the Pinnacle Mine had 0.5 per inspection (0.2 as serious). Crandall Canyon had more than average, 6.3 (with 2.2 rated serious).

'Imminent danger'

Inspectors issued "imminent danger withdrawal orders" seven times in Utah mines since 2004. Such orders are used "to immediately remove miners from exposure to serious hazards and to prevent miners from entering such hazardous areas," according to MSHA rules. At least portions of mines were closed by the orders.

The Aberdeen Mine (controlled by Murray) received four such orders, two in 2004 and one each in 2005 and 2006. The Sufco Mine received one in 2005. And the West Ridge Mine (controlled by Murray) received two in 2006.

The Crandall Canyon Mine received no such orders.