Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. today named his former political opponent, Scott Matheson Jr., to lead the newly formed Utah Mine Safety Commission that will consider what the state's role should be in protecting coal miners.

The panel also will include politicians, union officials and mining experts. Huntsman said he expects them to help the state do "everything that is reasonably possible" to ensure the safety of miners.

Utah ceded mine safety to the federal government in 1977, a decision that the governor said may be reconsidered. He said public hearings will be held in Huntington, Price and other communities before the commission reports back later this year with recommendations.

But determining what went wrong at the Crandall Canyon Mine where six miners remain trapped underground and three rescuers died will be the responsibility of the federal government, Huntsman said.

The governor said Matheson, who was his Democratic opponent in the 2004 governor's race, was his first choice to lead the commission. Matheson, son of the late Gov. Scott Matheson, is a former U.S. Attorney and University of Utah law-school dean.

Earlier today, Huntsman said the families of the miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine had been "treated unconscionably," and he suggested mine co-owner Bob Murray is to blame.

Families of the trapped miners have expressed anger at Murray, who has said the miners are dead and their bodies may never be recovered. During the taping of the governor's monthly news conference broadcast on KUED Channel 7, Huntsman said he's "not sure anyone cares what (Murray) has to say right now."

Huntsman was asked if Murray was responsible for the families' frustration. "I'm not going to get into the mine owner other than to say...the families were treated unconscionably, and they deserve better," Huntsman said.

The governor also said he was not sure that all available technologies had been used to reach the miners trapped since the mine collapsed 18 days ago.

"I think there ought to be a minimum threshold for respect for human dignity," the governor said. More can be done before the miners are left entombed in the mine, far beneath the surface, he said.

"These families deserve the very best. And if it means resources have to be expended on the part of the company, if it means that new technologies and methodologies need to be considered to safely reach closure for these families, then that ought to be done," he said.

The disaster, which has left three rescuers dead and six injured, means "the system is broken," the governor said. "That's going to be up to Congress to figure out how to fix it, the Department of Labor and MSHA," he said, referring to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

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