The Utah operation, also known as the Tower mine, was cited on October 26, 2006 and June 20, 2007 for fire and explosion hazards classified as flagrant under the MINER Act of 2006, paired with what MSHA viewed as recurring infringement of the same standard. The fine for the former was $220,000 and the latter $200,300, the agency noted.

“Mine operators that repeatedly violate mine safety standards must be held accountable for their actions," said agency acting assistant secretary for mine safety and health Richard Stickler, who noted that the violations were found during two routine inspections at Aberdeen.

“According to MSHA inspection records, the mine operator allowed excessive accumulations of hydraulic oil, and fine coal particles covered the hoses, electric conduit and tram motors on electric equipment," the agency said of the specific issues.

“In addition, the mine operator allowed excessive accumulations of potentially explosive float coal dust and other combustible material to accumulate on a dangerously maintained conveyor belt. Such accumulations provide substantial fuel to propagate a mine fire.”

Andelex Resources is controlled by Bob Murray of Murray Energy. He also owns the West Ridge operation in the region as well as the now-closed Crandall Canyon mine, all three of which he acquired in August 2006 under the umbrella of UtahAmerican Energy.

The agency defines a flagrant violation at an operation to include "a reckless or repeated failure to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory safety and health standard that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury".

Last April, it recorded its largest ever fine imposed on an operator – $1.5 million – to Massey Energy for violations at its Aracoma mine in West Virginia where two men died in January 2006.