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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An affiliate of Murray Energy Corp. agreed to operate one of its Utah coal mines by wireless remote control to end a safety dispute with federal regulators.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration shut down major operations at the West Ridge mine near Price for a week after one in a series of mountain "bounces" broke some ribs of a foreman and collapsed one of his lungs.
The violent outburst of coal shut down the operation Jan. 31, but coal production resumed Sunday.
An administrative law judge was to hear West Ridge Resources' appeal of the shutdown order in a hearing set for Thursday, but it was called off by the settlement.
MSHA coal safety chief Kevin Stricklin says West Ridge agreed to keep men about 125 feet from the face of the longwall panel.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
