In our opinion: Utah's mining heroes   Federal regulators are
looking into the death of a Utah coal miner killed by a slab of
rock that fell during a particularly tenuous excavation process
known as "retreat mining." Preliminary reports indicate there
were no apparent lapses in safety protocol, or any severe or
chronic problems at the Rhino Mine, where 29-year-old Elam Jones
died last Friday.  The incident shows that no matter how many
regulations are in place, or how committed operators are to
safety, mining is an inherently dangerous occupation. And
despite advancements in safety systems, it will remain
treacherous work, just as it will remain vital and necessary
work, despite the rapid development of competing energy sources.
Across America, coal is still king when it comes to generating
electricity, but its kingdom is shrinking. The use of natural
gas for electrical generation is growing at a rapid pace, while
the percentage of coal-fired power continues to slide. Even so,
coal will remain a vital compon