Officials: W. Va. Mine Operator Kept Two Sets Of Safety Records

Categories: National News, Accidents and Disasters

by Howard Berkes

Federal mine disaster investigators disclosed a few pieces of new
information Tuesday night from their year-long look at the April 2010
deadly Upper Big Branch mine explosion. They said that:

- Mine owner Massey Energy kept two sets of records that chronicled
safety problems. One internal set of production reports detailed those
problems and how they delayed coal production. But the other records,
which are reviewed by federal mine safety inspectors and required by
federal law, failed to mention the same safety hazards. Some of the
hazards that were not disclosed are identical to those believed to
have contributed to the explosion.

- Portions of the Upper Big Branch mine hit by the explosion were not
treated for excessive and explosive coal dust because the entryways or
tunnels in those areas were too small to accommodate the machine used
to spray the material that neutralizes coal dust.

- Gas readings taken shortly after the explosion showed too little
methane to support Massey Energy's claim that a massive,
naturally-occurring and unpredictable inundation of gas caused the
disaster.

- The path of the fiery blast that accompanied the explosion traveled
in more complicated and convoluted ways than reported earlier.

Those details come from a private briefing in Beckley, W.Va., held
last night for the families of the 29 mine workers killed in the
disaster. Six participants provided those details to NPR.

The participants said the Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHSA) presented findings that support its earlier, preliminary
conclusions, as well as those of an independent team of investigators,
who issued their final report last month.

Massey Energy was recently absorbed by Alpha Natural Resources in a
friendly takeover. An Alpha spokesman told NPR before last night's
private briefing that the company would have no comment on any new
information until after a public briefing set for 10 am ET today.

MSHA told the families that its final report should be ready this
Fall.

http://xrl.us/bkw7oo


--
Want to discuss recreational boating and fishing in a forum where
personal insults are not allowed?

http://groups.google.com/group/rec-boating-fishing