Utah coal operators back away from deep mining 2 years after disastrous Crandall collapse

October 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In a bid to introduce competitive bidding for allocation of coal blocks and benefit consuming industries, the government will soon replace the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act, 1957, a senior official said Wednesday. "The new draft bill would be placed before the cabinet soon.

September 30th, 2009 EPA to delay 79 coal mining permits in 4 statesCHARLESTON, W.Va. — President Barack Obama's administration put the brakes on 79 applications for surface coal mining permits in four states Wednesday, saying they would violate the Clean Water Act.

September 9th, 2009 PANAJI - Mining in Goa's hinterland is eating into the state's cashew production, growers of the nut say. "Some of the best plantations in north and south Goa are being destroyed by mining activities," said Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association president Madhav Sahakari here Wednesday.

August 27th, 2009 Crandall Canyon payouts moving through Utah courtsSALT LAKE CITY — Judges have begun approving payouts from a multimillion-dollar settlement stemming from the collapse two years ago of a Utah mine that entombed six miners and led to three rescuers' deaths. Recently released court records show the claims also cover a miner who narrowly avoided a crushing death only to commit suicide months later.

August 1st, 2009 Groups want US to reconsider Utah uranimum mineSALT LAKE CITY — Two environmental groups have asked federal land managers to reconsider their approval of Utah's first new uranium mine in three decades. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Uranium Watch oppose the Daneros Mine, located about 120 miles from Natural Bridges National Monument in southeastern Utah.

July 1st, 2009 RANCHI - The National Highway 33 of Jharkhand may be damaged if an ongoing underground fire further engulfs an abandoned mine of Central Coal Field Ltd (CCL) in Ramgarh district. "The fire has reached the national highway which is situated near the closed coal mine," a police officer said.

June 28th, 2009 Utah's deep coal operators face heavy regulationHELPER, Utah — Two years after a Utah mine collapsed, entombing six miners more than 2,000 feet under a mountain and also killing three members of a rescue team, the state's coal operators are backing away from rich coal reserves held deep under the ground. Coal mines have come under intense scrutiny in every part of the country, with the Mine Safety and Health Administration tripling fines against all coal mines last year, to $152.7 million.

June 23rd, 2009 Daryl Hannah, scientist arrested at W.Va. protestNAOMA, W.Va.

June 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government is considering divesting up to 10 percent stake in the state-run Coal India Ltd, the country's largest coal miner, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said here Tuesday. "We are working on a proposal to disinvest 5 to 10 percent stake in Coal India.

June 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government is "strongly considering" to allow commercial coal mining by private companies in a bid to bridge the demand-supply gap, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said Monday. "We are strongly considering to allow commercial coal mining by private firms," Jaiswal told reporters here.

June 11th, 2009 Obama looks to end expedited mining reviewsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration wants tougher environmental reviews for coal companies that mine the Appalachians by blasting off mountaintops and discarding the rubble in stream valleys. The administration plans to announce Thursday a proposal to eliminate the expedited reviews that have made it easier for mining companies to get approval for mountaintop mining.

May 30th, 2009 Gas leak kills 25 at mine in ChinaBEIJING — A gas leak killed 25 miners and 20 others remained trapped underground Saturday at a coal mine in China's southwestern city of Chongqing, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Rescuers are working to release those trapped, the news agency said.

March 19th, 2009 JAKARTA - MSE Earthstone Resources FZC, part of Earthstone Group, a diversified mining company, today announced the acquisition of 100% economic rights for coal tenement extensively spread over 2,560 Hectares in the thermal coal resource region of Melabouh, Aceh, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Indonesian Department of Mining granted a three-year Kuasa Pertambangan (a mining right) license to PT Bara Bina Perkasa early this month.

February 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - State-run Coal India Ltd will invest Rs.100 billion (Rs.10,000 crore) to revive coal mines at Jharia in Jharkhand, a top official said here Wednesday. 'Jharia coal mines are highly under-utilised and only coking coal is produced there.

January 13th, 2009 MUMBAI - Five state-owned companies forged a pact Wednesday to secure coal assets overseas through a joint venture company. National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC), the country's largest power company, said in a statement that it has signed an agreement with other coal, mineral and steel utilities to float a special purpose vehicle to secure and develop coal assets overseas.