Other Massey mines cited for ventilation problems

By Ken Ward Jr.
Staff writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the days before and since the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, other Massey Energy underground mines in Appalachia were repeatedly cited for major violations of safety rules meant to prevent methane and coal dust explosions, government records show.

U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors cited the Massey operations for violations of federal standards for mine ventilation and for illegal accumulations of explosive coal dust. The citations were at least partly the result of special spot inspections and complaint investigations that appear to have been planned before the Upper Big Branch explosion.


Starting less than a week before the April 5 explosion that claimed 29 lives in Raleigh County, MSHA officials conducted special spot inspections and a hazard complaint inspection at Massey subsidiary Spartan Mining's Road Fork No. 1 Mine in neighboring Wyoming County.


Inspectors cited Spartan Mining for 25 violations in three separate inspections between March 26 and April 7, according to MSHA data. The violations included at least nine that cited the company for "unwarrantable failure" to comply with federal safety and health rules. Read More...

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201004120676

The "Friends Of Coal" are not very miner friendly.

"Corporate republicon homelander fatcats have the right to maximize PROFIT at the risk of life and health to you noisy American proles. So just STFU, and let us count up our profits. Sneer."

- Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R - Propaganda Pimp)

Without a wind can on his back.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201004120733

Wall Street can't even wait until all the dead are out of that mine, before they start betting that AT Massey will again get away with industrial grade murder.