02/03/10

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ A coal company gave Utah Gov. Gary Herbert
a $10,000 campaign contribution four days before the company sat
down with him to complain regulators were taking too long to issue
a strip-mining permit.

At the September meeting, state regulators say they decided to
fast-track a decision for Alton Coal Development LLC to operate the
mine near Panguitch despite opposition from residents.

Alton's donation was revealed in a Jan. 11 filing by Herbert's
political action committee. It cashed the check on the same day the
company got an audience with Herbert.

Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling told The Associated Press
Wednesday that Herbert never instructed regulators to issue the
strip-mine permit and didn't know the company was donating to his
campaign. Welling says Herbert is a big supporter of energy
development.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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