Criminal Charges Coming After Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion Investigation

According to the Wall Street Journal, a former Superintendent at the Upper Big Branch Mine has been charged with violating federal mine laws to keep coal production flowing. See the story at:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203960804577239053805044644.html?mod=rss_US_News

The story says:

“Prosecutors allege that Mr. May was part of a broader conspiracy at Massey for more than two years leading up to the accident, the worst U.S. mining disaster in four decades.”

The story also says”

“The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration concluded in December, after a 20-month investigation, that the accident was ‘entirely preventable.’ It said Massey management failed to prevent a small methane-gas ignition from turning into a powerful coal-dust explosion. The agency fined Alpha a record $10.8 million in civil penalties.”

Interesting reading…

We’ll be having a presentation about the accident by a former MSHA employee at the 2012 Global TapRooT® Summit being held next week in Las Vegas.