Murray's company sought and received approval from federal regulators to make a significant, and, experts say, risky change to the mining strategy. ..

Records refute owner's claim that plan remained same | Did changes in Crandall Canyon mining plan boost cave-in risks? | By Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune | Article Last Updated: 08/22/2007 07:23:18 AM MDT

Robert Murray insists that his company did not change the mining plan at Crandall Canyon after purchasing a joint interest in the mine last August.
But documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune clearly contradict Murray's assertion, and show that Murray's company sought and received approval from federal regulators to make a significant, and, experts say, risky change to the mining strategy.
Records of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) show that, after Murray acquired a 50 percent ownership in the mine on Aug. 9, 2006, his company repeatedly petitioned the agency to allow coal to be extracted from the north and south barriers - thick walls of coal that run on both sides of the main tunnels and help hold up the mine.