show that Ralph Napier, with his son, had registered a new mining company. Under the 1977 Mine Act, MSHA may not close a mine for penalties unpaid for mining violations. An operator (individual or company) is free to go an open another mine, or keep operating the mine where delinquent penalties prevail. References Coal mining disasters in Kentucky Harlan County, Kentucky 2006 mining disasters 2006 disasters in the United States 2006 in Kentucky