Consider, for example, how many times some mines were cited for not following approved ventilation plans to control dust and methane gas.

The Horizon Mine was cited for violating that 40 times since 2004; the Sufco Mine was cited 27 times; Aberdeen, 26; Dugout Canyon, 25; Emery Mine, 23; Bear Canyon No. 4, 20; West Ridge, 20; Deer Creek, 11; Bear Canyon No. 3, nine; Crandall Canyon, eight; South Crandall Canyon, six; Skyline No. 3, four; and Pinnacle, two.

A section of the Mine Act does provide for "severe sanctions against mine operators who have a pattern of violations" that are serious and repeated. But no Utah mines have been cited under that section.

In fact, MSHA in June announced that for the first time it had warned eight mine operators nationally they were in danger of such sanctions and would be watched closely for the next 90 days.

Why do so many violations recur?

"There is no one, single answer to that," MSHA's Louviere said.

"Most operators understand that production and the welfare of their workers go hand in hand. For those that ignore good safety practices, MSHA uses all the tools at its disposal to bring them into compliance, including enforcement, training and technical support," she said.

Fines levied

Violations often are accompanied by fines — sometimes huge ones, though usually they are relatively small. Mine operators can also contest fines to sometimes lower them.

MSHA has imposed fines totaling $1.6 million combined for the 13 underground coal mines it inspected in Utah since 2004.

The Aberdeen Mine had the highest fine total: $391,962. The least was the Pinnacle Mine (also controlled by Murray), just $3,067. The Crandall Canyon Mine had been fined $134,630.

The average fine per violation was only $311 (on fines where no appeals of amounts are still pending or possible).

Mine operators were able to lower (or erase) fines on about 2 percent of all violations cited.

They saved big on the 69 violations where amounts were lowered. Originally, inspectors proposed fines totaling $92,022 for them. They were eventually lowered to $45,488, or less than half of what was originally proposed. (Operators are currently contesting fines on another 124 violations issued since 2004).

Examples of some violations where fines were lowered at the Crandall Canyon Mine include: having equipment obstructing an escapeway (a $6,300 fine reduced to zero); not properly testing for adequate air in the mine transport system (reduced from $5,300 to $3,710); and insufficient testing for carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide in areas where diesel equipment is used (from $4,500 to $3,150).