Black, however, was encouraged by MSHA looking again at the mining plans for several deep mines like Crandall Canyon in the interest of preventing future disasters. She credited Stickler with making "good points" that had to do with a new checklist that mine inspectors will have to follow during inspections.

Attorney Colin King, whose firm represents several families of the mine disaster victims, called the report "tough" and said there is a lot of new information in it that backs up claims that families are making in their lawsuit. "It underlines and emphasized the claims we made in our complaint," King said. Those families, he added, are suing for more answers and to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Cesar Sanchez, brother of miner Manuel Sanchez, who died in the initial collapse, said everything he heard Thursday confirmed rumors that the mine operator had not reported everything that was going on in the mine prior to the failure. He said this renewed an anger that he hasn't felt for some time, adding that all this could have been avoided.

A different Labor Department report this past spring labeled MSHA "negligent" for its role in the Crandall Canyon disaster. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., last March issued a separate Senate report that blamed MSHA and Robert Murray for the collapses. Kennedy said the 75-page report warranted a criminal investigation by the Justice Department.

Congress called on Crandall Canyon co-owner Murray to appear in front of lawmakers for his take on the allegations, but Murray has remained mum since his colorful news conferences near the mine in the weeks after the initial collapse.

The Deseret News has tried several times recently to reach Murray for comment. His son, Rob Murray, said in an e-mail that his father is not granting interviews.

The six miners who were trapped and killed by the massive collapse on Aug. 6 were Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Manuel Sanchez.

Three more men — Dale Black, Brandon Kimber and MSHA's Gary Jensen — were killed in another collapse 10 days later trying to rescue their friends.

Department of Labor spokesman Matthew Faraci said at the end of the meeting that family members of the deceased were walking up to Stickler and hugging him and thanking him for all he had done and been through.

Memorials and the unveiling of a sculpture honoring the nine men are planned for next month and September in Huntington and also near the entrance of the sealed mine where the men lost their lives.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com