Mining resumes at Lee Smith underground following fatality

Image Source: elkodaily.com

Elko Daily reported that Small Mine Development LLC has resumed mining at Jerritt Canyon Gold’s Lee Smith underground mine north of Elko after operations were halted following a fatality on Oct. 25, but SMD is still awaiting word from inspectors to return to full operations. US Mine Safety and Health Administration ordered the halt after Jason Holman, 42, of Goshen, Utah, died in a fall of ground. The agency partially lifted the order in two segments in December.

Keith Jones of SMD said “We hope the order will be fully lifted soon, but we are waiting to hear back from the agency. We hope to have all employees back to work once the full 103(K) order is lifted.”

Miners at Lee Smith were furloughed during the full shutdown, but a portion of them were allowed back Dec. 3 to do rehabilitation bolting and shotcreting, and MSHA allowed mining and backfilling beginning Dec. 17.

Source : Elko Daily