Congress seeks probe into mine executive

WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Members of Congress want the Justice Department to probe whether there was a conspiracy to hide information about a Utah mine prior to a disaster at the mine.

The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee wants to know if owners of the Crandall Canyon Mine withheld information from the government about a "bounce" at the mine before the Aug. 6, 2007, collapse that killed six miners, and a subsequent accident that killed three mine rescuers, the Deseret Morning News reported Thursday.

Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif. asked the U.S. Attorney General to investigate whether Laine W. Adair, general manager of resources for the mine operator, either on his own or "in conspiracy with others" purposely withheld information about the bounce -- which is a bursting of coal and rock caused by pressure or stress.

Miller said he was pursuing Adair instead of Murray Energy head Bob Murray because there is more evidence Adair was directly responsible for communicating with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Kevin N. Anderson, an attorney representing the mine and Adair, discounted Miller's claims.

"As with many of his prior statements, there is no credible basis for Mr. Miller's reckless allegations," said Anderson.