St. Louis, US-based coal producer Arch Coal's subsidiary Canyon Fuel Company has announced that it temporarily suspended production at its Dugout Canyon mine in Carbon County, Utah, on April 29 after a small increase in carbon monoxide levels was detected in a mined-out area that was in the process of being sealed. No employees were injured and the mine has not sustained any property damage.
According to a statement by ArchCoal, the small increase in carbon monoxide is believed to have been caused by a heating event, or ‘hot spot,' in a previously mined area. Since the incident was first detected, carbon monoxide levels have not increased and methane levels remain low.
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Dugout Canyon personnel are working closely and cooperatively at the site to address the incident and determine the best course of action.
At this point, Dugout Canyon will continue honoring customer contracts by shipping coal from its inventory. Dugout Canyon mine and its 275 employees produced approximately 200,000 mt of low-sulfur bituminous coal per month in the first quarter of 2010, which equates to about two percent of Arch's total production.