Although some states have their own regulatory agencies, Tom Faddies, assistant director of minerals for the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, advocated having just the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration oversee all mine safety in Utah.

"It puts sole responsibility on that agency," said Faddies. "The responsibility for mine safety has been handed to MSHA. That's who should continue to handle it."

He added that state agencies could aid MSHA in its mission, but limiting bureaucracy streamlines the process of regulation, which should help expedite investigations and result in getting answers in a more timely fashion.

Faddies also recommended that the state put more emphasis on training for workers in the mining industry, as well as improved oversight.

"A supervisor in that mine has got to be able to depend on this technical support staff," he said. "(Miners) have to depend that the rock mechanic who designed the pillars (in the mine) knew their craft."

Faddies said the responsibility for safety runs across every layer of the mine operation up through management to the head officer of the company.

Utah Mine Safety Commission chairman Scott Matheson said he was pleased with the input received at the hearing.

One of the key messages was "having a stronger Western voice when it comes to mine safety," he said. "That goes to training, to the inspection process itself. It just goes to the way we think about all these issues, and I think that came across loud and clear today."

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