Commission recommends mine safety office

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah Mine Safety Commission is recommending to Gov. Jon Huntsman that the state should create a limited mine-safety office within the Utah Industrial Commission.

However, the commission doesn't want the office to inspect mines.

Instead, the office would handle whistleblower calls about potential safety issues and take the lead in the state's response to mine disasters.

Lawmakers would have to allocate more than $1 million for employees, to buy seismic equipment and to establish a research institute and an emergency response center near Price, under the recommendations.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 21.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune

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