Miller said Murray Energy could face criminal charges: "I am confident that MSHA's additional evidence in support of our criminal referral will provide further assistance to the Department of Justice in aggressively pursuing this criminal matter."

The MSHA and Labor Department reports also drew attention from Utah leaders, including the governor.

"These reports confirmed our worst suspicion: that no mining should have been taking place at the Crandall Canyon Mine due to unsafe conditions. There must be accountability on all levels," said Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. in a prepared statement. "State officials and our newly established Office of Coal Mine Safety are currently reviewing these two reports with an eye toward ensuring that unnecessary tragedies like Crandall Canyon do not occur again."

Stickler on Friday admitted that his tenure at MSHA has not been an easy one, with several fatal mine incidents occurring on his watch. He said despite the criticisms over the agency's handling of the Crandall Canyon incident, he does not regret his decision to come out of retirement to accept his current appointment two years ago.

"I was an underground miner, I love miners, I respect them and to be asked to serve and say no — I won't do it," he said. "I just hope that in January, nobody asks me again."

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