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Empire mine closes Phfl Ellsworth Staff Writer The Empire mine south of Craig joins the growing list of cut- backs in Northwest Colorado's coal industry. The mine officially ceased pro- duction Sunday and is transferring its sales contracts to the Twenq~mile mine near Oak Creek. $oth are underground mines owned by Cyprus Amax. With the closure, the Twentymile mine becomes Cypms Amax's sole coal producer in the Matz. Cyprus spokesman Ron Spangler said 19 of 21 of Empire's salaried employers are either now employed at Twentymile, another mine or are working in different fields. However, only 21 of 69 hourly workers have found placement through the company, Spangler said. A number of the hourly work- ers are going into other Yields, he said. Some of those jobs, such as welding or cement work, use knowledge or skills from their work at the mine, while others are going another route, starting up their ow•n businesses, Spangler said. The mine's sales contract with Colorado Springs Public Utilities will be absorbed by Twentymile. Spangler said the shutdown is pri- marily market driven. "Our costs are higher than whaC we could sell our coal for," Spangler said. "W'e will cominue to look for ways to mine the cozd that's there (a[ Empire) more cost zffectively" A skeleton crew of five salaried and five hourly workers will remain. That crew will focus on preserving the existing mine facili- ties, keeping permits up to date and maintaining the mine's equipment. Medical benefits for workers who are laid oft will continue for a[ least six months, Spangler said. The company will also provide clerical support - including resumes, cover letters, etc. -for workers looking forjobs elsewhere.