Donkin coal mine back in full production? Maybe not

There seems to be a disagreement over whether the underground coal mine in Donkin, N.S., is actually back in full production.

Kameron Coal has been workingin a small area under strict safety limitations since themine was shut down at the end of December after a roof collapse.

No one was injured, but the provincial Department of Labour ordered production to cease until a new ground safety plan could be approved.

Coal mining started up again at the end of January in a small portion of the mine.

In a short press release issued Tuesday afternoon, mine vice-president Shannon Campbell said a revised ground control plan had been approved by the province and full operations had resumed.

No other details were immediately available.

On Wednesday, the Department of Labour said the mine still has some work to do before it gets full approval.

Scott Nauss, senior director of inspections and compliance, saidthe company's ground safety plan is now in place, but the province still needs to approve its layout, electrical and ventilation safety plans.

"We only speak to the approvals ...and there are three remaining approvals to be achieved for 2019," he said.

"We wouldn't consider a mine fully approved until all four of those plans are approved."

Province is confident

Nausssaiddespite the difference of opinion on what constitutes full production,the company is following regulations.

"I am confident," he said.

"We actually inspected the mine the day following the approval of the ground control plan to make sure that they were in compliance with the conditions, and they were."

The mine is operated by Kameron Coal, which is owned by U.S. coal magnate Chris Cline.

It has been cited for a variety of safety issues since opening two years ago, including compliance orders and warnings since January for deficiencies in equipment and procedures.

Provincial officials have said operating an underground coal mine is inherently risky, and with several kilometres of slopes to inspect, safety infractions are bound to occur.

Since the mine restarted on limited production, mine officials have been operating under strict controls and have been testing different work methods.

Campbell has said the company takes safety very seriously and has been working closely with provincial inspectors to come up with new, safeprocedures.

The mine employs roughly 125 workers.

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