An Associated Press article stated RAG American Coal officials said the idling of the Pennsylvania mine was a result of MSHA changing its interpretation of underground ventilation regulations since the mine's original ventilation plan was approved in December.

MSHA have disputed this, maintaining RAG wasn't complying with its original ventilation plan. The company had submitted a revised plan in late January which was rejected by MSHA on February 2, MSHA assistant district manager for inspection Tom Light told Associated Press.

To comply with ventilation regulations, Cumberland must develop additional entries to an existing air shaft, which will be completed over the next three months.

Associated Press reported a small number of the mine's 573 workers will be laid off, with the remainder working reduced schedules.

Cumberland started production in 1977, extracting steaming coal from the seven foot (2.1 metre) Pittsburgh #8-Seam.