Surely the "unforeseen conditions" were the realization that MSHA was actually going to scrutinize the mine, and not allow the same sloppy methods to be used. Coal mining can be, and is, conducted at 3,000 feet. Dugout Canyon does it because they design for it.

This is also a typical tactic by "Uncle Bob" when he doesn't get his way---shut down a mine, lay lots of people off, and then after the congressman for that area has sweat for a while over unemployed constituents, try to get concessions at the next site by threatening to lay more people off. That's how MSHA management gets these mysterious directives from highly placed persons to "do whatever you can to work with" the mine. But now Bob's highly placed connections are an embarrassment, rather than a help, and he may have to actually play by the rules---do it right, or close up shop.