The massive blast Saturday in Hegang city in frigid Heilongjiang province erupted at night when some 500 miners were working below ground. Most escaped, but 104 were confirmed dead and an additional four were missing and feared dead, the official Xinhua news agency reported Monday.
The explosion at the Xinxing coal mine, which belongs to the state-owned Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, was the deadliest in Chinas mining industry in two years, and has highlighted how heavy demand for power-generating coal comes at a high human cost.
At the gates of the mining companys offices, family members and friends confronted mining officials - - - - >

Acting EPA Regional Administrator William Early said in a letter sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington district that the agency is “taking this unusual step in response to our very serious concerns” that the project could violate the Clean Water Act.
According to the EPA, the agency has never used its authority to review a previously permitted project since Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972.
The permit was issued in 2007 for Mingo Logan Coals Spruce No. 1 mine, which is owned by St. Louis-based Arch Coal Inc.
It would allow the company to fill valleys at the - - - - >

The land is being “segregated” for two years so that the department can study whether it should be permanently withdrawn from mining activity, said the official, who requested anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The announcement comes ahead of Tuesdays congressional hearing on a bill to set aside more than 1 million acres of federal lands north and south of the canyon. The bills sponsor, Democratic U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and environmental groups had been looking to Salazar for temporary protections at the Grand Canyon while the legislation is pending.
The Interior Department under President - - - - >