Davis wrote in another e-mail to officials a week later about potential research on coal mining in Utah, "Our relationship with Mr. Murray has been stormy thus far. That is also the pattern of his relationship with MSHA at his eastern mines. Just wanted to give you a heads-up on that. He may not be a willing participant if he senses anything you do could impact his ability to produce coal."

A few months later in October 2006, assistant district 9 manager Bill Knepp wrote to Kevin Strickland, administrator of MSHA's Office of Coal Mine Safety & Health, that Murray's takeover of the Aberdeen Mine in Utah had been stormy for inspectors.

"They have aggressively opposed enforcement actions taken by Inspectors Durrant and Schumway, accused them both of retaliation, met with Supervisor Farmer and attempted to dictate how inspections should be performed at mines. All indications so far are that this operator intends to use whatever means available to leverage enforcement at their mines," he wrote.

That same month, Cornett wrote about a conference call he earlier had with Murray and some field inspectors from Price.

"Murray also got vocal on the issue of Tim Thompson having inspectors put a closure order on his longwall and that he complained to someone in Congress about it and that Mr. Thompson resultantly lost his job. Mr. Murray did state that he did not have Thompson fired, but that he would not stand by and be treated wrongly and would complain," he wrote.

Cornett also wrote that he had brought up in meetings with Murray Energy officials that his inspectors had heard that the company referred to inspectors as "enemies" and bragged about getting rid of some. He said he told them that it would be difficult to improve relations if the company said or believed such things.

One document suggests Murray Energy's combativeness did pressure MSHA into lightening up on enforcement at Crandall Canyon. An example is outlined in a Nov. 1, 2006, memo by Crandall Canyon Safety Manager Jim Paulson describing a meeting with Davis and Cornett of MSHA complaining that inspections were suddenly more strict with a new inspector.

"We discussed with Mr. Davis that the change in enforcement, without giving the operator time to comply with what was previously accepted standards, was unjust and warranted relief," he wrote.

"Mr. Davis committed to investigating and pulling back enforcement to allow the operator time to comply," the memo said. As Murray Energy complained further about overzealousness of an inspector, the memos said, "Mr. Davis again commented he would look into this issue and pull back enforcement."