Colorado Mine Where 2 Died Cited by Feds

Federal mine inspectors have found 97 violations at a Colorado mine where two miners died of carbon-monoxide poisoning last month.

The Durango Herald reported that Mine Safety and Health Administration officials found the violations at the Ouray County mine during spot inspections between Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere says the violations weren’t related to the Nov. 17 fatal accident at the Revenue-Virginius Mine near Ouray (yoo-RAY’) in southwestern Colorado.

The accident killed Rick Williams of Durango and Nick Cappanno of Montrose. Both died of carbon-monoxide poisoning, and another 20 crew members were treated for carbon-monoxide exposure.

The mine has received 33 citations since Star Mine became the operator in 2011, including 13 that regulators determined were reasonably likely to result in injury or illness.