US regulators issue 186 citations during mining inspections in June

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says inspectors issued 186 citations at 13 U.S. mining operations in June.

Eleven of those mines were coal operations, while the others were metal and nonmetal.

MSHA cited as examples Thursday coal mines in Virginia and West Virginia.

Twenty-five citations were issued at the Dickenson-Russell Coal Co. LLC's Cherokee Mine in Dickenson County, Virginia.

The West Virginia inspection occurred at Rhino Eastern LLC's Eagle Mine 3 in Wyoming County. MSHA said it found dozens of violations.

The impact inspections began in 2010 after the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in West Virginia killed 29 coal miners.