tagged w/ Massey Coal
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The Labor Department took an unprecedented step against a Kentucky coal mine Wednesday, asking that a federal judge shut it down immediately to protect the lives of those who work there.
In filing for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court, the government cites persistently dangerous conditions in Massey Energy's Freedom Mine No. 1 in Pike County. The action — the toughest enforcement action available to federal regulators — would shut down the mine until safety hazards are addressed and Massey Energy demonstrates it can operate the mine safely.
The Freedom Mine employs about 130 miners and was cited for safety violations more than 700 times this year alone.
The move is viewed by mine safety experts as one response to the deadly explosion in April at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. Twenty-nine mine workers died in that tragedy, which has triggered civil and criminal investigations.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130596700The Labor Department took an unprecedented step against a Kentucky coal mine... more
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Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship weighs in on government regulation and its impact on earnings.Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship weighs in on government regulation and its impact on... more
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A Washington Post analysis shows that more than 200 former congressional staff members, federal regulators and lawmakers are employed by the mining industry. They work as lobbyists, consultants or senior executives, and dozens work for coal companies with the worst safety records in the nation.
The revolving door has also brought industry officials into government as policy aides in Congress or officials of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which enforces safety standards.
The movement between industry and government allows both to benefit from crucial expertise, but mining safety experts say it often has led to a regulatory system tilted toward coal company interests. That, they say, has put miners at risk and left behind a flawed enforcement system that probably contributed to this month's Massey Energy mine explosion in West Virginia.A Washington Post analysis shows that more than 200 former congressional staff... more
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The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has ordered the evacuation of miners from parts of the Upper Big Branch coal mine 64 times since the beginning of 2009 because of safety violations.The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has ordered the evacuation of miners... more
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The federal investigators probing into the massive explosion that killed 29 West Virginia coal miners last week might take note: According to a review of federal records by The Washington Independent, the dozens of other active tunnel mines owned by the same energy company have run up thousands of safety violations this year alone. Hundreds of those citations target the same problems with ventilation and methane buildup that many suspect sparked the West Virginia disaster.The federal investigators probing into the massive explosion that killed 29 West... more
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