Huntsman asked Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to reconsider the department's decision not to give the state Mine Safety Commission access to MSHA's probe or to relevant documents, such as transcripts of formal interviews with people knowledgeable about what might have caused the mine's walls to collapse Aug. 6 and Aug. 16, killing nine people and injuring six others.

The state commission was appointed after the first catastrophic collapse to help Huntsman determine what role the state should play in making sure Utah's coal mines are safe.

"The goals of [the commission] are not dependent upon total disclosure of MSHA investigations, but would be greatly buoyed by regular briefings to a designated commissioner or staff member," Huntsman said in his letter to Chao.

"Real-time access to information is critical for Utah to be able to make changes that are necessary to prevent another incident like the disaster at the Crandall Canyon mine," he added.

Labor Department Solicitor Jonathan Snare had informed commission chairman Scott Matheson on Wednesday that federal officials had "grave concerns" that commission participation in MSHA's "law enforcement investigation . . . may inherently compromise the integrity of the investigation and potentially jeopardize MSHA's ability to enforce the law."

Snare also rejected a separate request from The Salt Lake Tribune to observe formal witness interviews.

In a letter Friday to Snare, Matheson said he was not trying to "debate or challenge the concerns raised in your letter" but to ask the Labor Department to be more flexible in its position.

He asked Snare to "reconsider your position, or at least be open to further discussion. . . Rather than defer my request for information on behalf of the [state commission], as you suggest in your letter, I request a fresh start in seeking a constructive solution."

A good starting point, Matheson suggested, would be for MSHA to designate a liaison to work with the state commission as soon as possible, "to ensure that we can maximize the benefits of this collaboration."

mikeg@sltrib.com