The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration issued 377 citations and orders during January inspections of 15 coal mines and seven non-coal mining operations.

The "impact inspections," which began after the Upper Big Branch explosion killed 29 miners in West Virginia last April, target mines with a poor compliance history and other problems, the agency said yesterday.

"Some mine operators have begun to show signs of improvement, while others continue to demonstrate poor compliance with safety and health laws," said Joseph Main, the Labor Department's assistant secretary for mine safety and health, in a statement.

The agency's release spotlighted violations at Manalapan Mining Co.'s RB No. 12 mine in Harlan County, Ky. Arriving during the evening shift and monitoring phones to prevent the mine operator from being warned of their arrival, the inspectors found defective multi-gas detectors and unsafe roof conditions, MSHA reported.

Since last April, MSHA has conducted 220 impact inspections resulting in 4,114 citations and 384 orders.