Congress to have hearings on mine collapse

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Family members of the nine men killed in August's Utah mine collapse are heading to Washington to testify before the U.S. Congress Wednesday.

Salt Lake City's Deseret Morning News reported Monday that the primary objective of the group is to push for better safety monitoring for people who work underground.

They are also expected to seek the recovery of the bodies of six of the victims that remain underground. Efforts to recover the miners were suspended Aug. 31.

Kristin Kimber, whose ex-husband was among those who died in the Crandall Canyon Mine, told the newspaper she is convinced mine owners knew they were using dangerous techniques to extract coal and that federal mine officials "rubber-stamped" their plans.

The House Education and Labor Committee, which is having hearings on the mine collapse, has subpoenaed U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao in addition to asking for key internal communication documents.