A Carbon County coal mine is among 15 operations nationwide being warned by the federal government for a potential pattern of safety and health violations.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration on Monday announced that the operator of the Horizon Coal Mine, located approximately 11 miles west of Helper, received a letter detailing violations of mandatory health or safety standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

The mine, which employs approximately 70 people is owned and operated by Hidden Splendor Resources Inc a fully owned subsidiary of Salt Lake based America West Resources Inc.

According to MSHA, Hidden Splendor Resources has been cited hundreds of times a year for violations at its Horizon mine.

Mr Dan Baker CEO of Salt Lake City based America West Resources said that "We have had problems with the mine and are taking measures to improve things.” He said that the problems were largely solved Saturday when the company closed a section of the mine that experienced 18 cave-ins over the past two years.

The Horizon mine has averaged 280,000 tons of coal per year over the past four years, according to the America West Resources Web site.

(Sourced from Associated Press)