JUDGE DENIES MEDIA ACCESS TO MSHA PROBE OF CRANDALL CANYON

Federal district judge Dee Benson ruled Oct. 9, 2007, that a group of news media companies could not have access to an investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) into the Crandall Canyon mine collapse in Utah Aug. 6, which killed six miners and three workers trying to rescue them.

While MSHA is investigating factors that led to the accident, MSHA itself has been criticized for decisions that may have led to the collapse.

A group of media companies went to court seeking to attend investigatory proceeding being held by MSHA. The companies included the Associated Press, CNN and The Salt Lake Tribune.

• "Judge Denies Access to Mine Tragedy Proceedings," News Media Update, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Oct. 9, 2007.
• "Utah Mine Probe Won't Be Open to News Media," Associated Press via First Amendment Center, Oct. 10, 2007.