The state Office of Coal Mine Safety is open. And it has a hotline (1-888-988-6463) where callers can anonymously report safety problems at mines. Now all it needs is a director. Applicants are being sought for the position, which will pay roughly $62,000 annually. The responsibilities, as the only person in the office, will be to:* Accept, evaluate and respond to accidents or reports of unsafe working conditions at Utah coal mines.

* Organize the preparation of response and communication plans for each of the state's active mines, in case an accident occurs there.

* Serve as staff for a mine safety technical advisory committee, which should be appointed by July.

* Work closely with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

* Recommend things the state can do to improve mine safety.

* Prepare an annual report on the status of coal mine safety.

The office was established last legislative session in response to weaknesses in the state's disaster response system that became evident during last August's cave-ins at the Crandall Canyon mine. Nine people died and six were injured when the walls blew in on Aug. 6 and Aug. 16.

Initially in Price, the office is expected to move eventually to the Western Energy Training Center in Helper. The office director will report to the director of the Division of Boiler and Elevator Safety in the Utah Labor Commission.

Applications are available at https://statejobs.utah.gov.

- Mike Gorrell