The Charleston Gazette - Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster

UBB findings indicate resurgence of black lung

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:32:55 -0400

Read the report CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new and more detailed analysis has confirmed that most of the miners killed in the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster suffered from blac...

Miner charged with faking foremans license

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:10:40 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Bluefield coal miner was charged this week with faking a foremans certification when he performed safety checks at four Southern West Virginia mining operations over an 18-month period, court records show. Craig Belcher, 36, was cha...

UBB criminal probe may target ex-Massey executives

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:05:38 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Former Massey Energy executives and board members "may be, or may become" targets in the ongoing federal criminal investigation of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, prosecutors said in court documents filed this week....

UBB foreman reaches deal with state

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:29:20 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A lower-level foreman from Massey Energys Upper Big Branch Mine has reached an agreement with West Virginia regulators and will voluntarily give up his foremans license for three years, according to state records made public Tuesday. ...

Some call for action on Upper Big Branch anniversary

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:27:13 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As West Virginians marked the third anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster Friday, some political leaders renewed their calls for tougher mine-safety legislation. "It is not enough merely to think back, to mourn, and t...

MSHA has room to improve, audit says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:59:58 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration has made important strides in the last year, but still has plenty of room to improve, according to a new government audit issued just before Fridays third anniversary of the Upper Big ...

Mine safety board delays key methane rule decision

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:21:55 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of a state board have again put off making a major decision thats required before West Virginia inspectors can begin enforcing tougher methane monitoring requirements contained in Gov. Earl Ray Tomblins 2012 mine safety legis...

New Robert C. Byrd miner-safety bill introduced in House

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:05:28 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., joined Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., in introducing the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2013, legislation aimed at strengthening national efforts to protect coal miners health and safety. &qu...

Mine safety chief defends stand down in wake of another death

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:15:25 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias mine safety chief Eugene White this morning defended a "safety stand down" ordered by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in the wake of another mining death at an operation where White personally delivered a safety talk a...

More mine rescue reforms needed, report says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:21:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Federal regulators should revisit and potentially strengthen their requirements for coal operators to provide emergency breathing devices for miners to use in escapes from underground mine fires or explosions, a new National Academy of...

Ex-mine boss now in Morgantown prison

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:07:07 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A former superintendent at the West Virginia coal mine where 29 men died in 2010 is now behind bars at a minimum-security federal prison in Morgantown, U.S. Bureau of Prison records showed Tuesday. Gary May was sentenced in January t...

W.Va. mine training law unenforced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 19:17:33 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Tomblin administration is not moving forward with language in West Virginias new mine safety bill that could require tougher safety training at coal-mining operations that routinely violate state regulations. Eugene White, directo...

Coal goal must be zero deaths, Consol president says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:24:04 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The president of Consol Energy warned coal company officials Thursday that continued deaths in the nations mines could dangerously erode public support for the industry at a time when its already fight...

Former Massey official pleads guilty in safety probe, says he conspired with CEO

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:14:48 -0500

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating with prosecutors on Thursday implicated the companys former chief executive officer, Don Blankenship, in a decade-long conspiracy to hide safety viol...

Raleigh mine had history of visibility violations

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:50:41 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On the morning of Jan. 23, state inspectors discovered a series of nearly identical violations on four coal-mining cars at Metinvests Affinity Mine in Raleigh County.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Members of West Virginias mine safety board declined to take action again on Thursday to implement tougher methane-monitoring requirements for underground coal mines, further delaying a key pr...

Tomblin, MSHA seek greater focus on coal safety

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:22:20 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Citing a string of recent mining deaths, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday ordered all West Virginia coal operators to briefly halt production to review safety laws and best practices with the st...

Mine safety work behind schedule, director says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:16:59 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginias mine safety director on Tuesday offered lawmakers no answers for the states string of three coal-mining deaths in a week, and acknowledged that his agency is behind on meeting important legislative mandates. "...

Tomblin speech light on talk of energy issues

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:54:56 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday night promised to keep fighting tougher federal regulation of the coal industry, touted continued growth of the states natural gas business, and said he would spare West Virginias mine safety agen...

Tomblin softens increase in mine safety fines

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:51:26 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblins administration has softened a proposed rule aimed at increasing monetary fines for violations of state mine safety and health standards.

T...

Tomblin administration defends progress on mine safety legislation

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:18:20 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Tomblin administration on Tuesday defended the pace of its work to implement last years mine safety legislation, as state regulators moved forward with a previously stalled requirement to inc...

W.Va. House speaker concerned about mine safety inaction

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:35:04 -0500

Read previous stories CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- House Speaker Rick Thompson said Monday he is concerned about a lack of progress by the Tomblin administration toward implementing the states new mi...

W.Va.s new coal dust standards go unenforced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nearly three years after the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, West Virginia regulators still havent begun citing and fining mine operators who violate new standards aimed at preventing coal-dust explosions, according ...

Key Tomblin mine safety measure not enforced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week in his inaugural address, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin touted his administrations efforts to ensure the safety and health of West Virginias coal miners. "We made our mines safer by passing a comprehensive mine safety bill to p...

Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent sentenced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:17:43 -0500

BECKLEY -- A former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent was sentenced to nearly two years in jail for his role in a plot to skirt safety rules and cover up the resulting hazards at the Raleigh Coun...

MSHA rule would crack down on repeat mine safety violators

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:21:25 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal operators whose mines repeatedly violate safety and health standards could more easily be hit with tougher enforcement actions under a new rule being finalized by the Obama administration. U.S. Department of Labor of...

UBB superintendent seeks light sentence

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:46:07 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent is asking a federal judge for leniency after admitting that he plotted to skirt safety rules and cover up the resulting hazards at the Raleigh County operation where 29 miners die...

Federal judge denies delay in Upper Big Branch sentencing

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:17:52 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge has again refused to delay the sentencing of a former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent who pleaded guilty to plotting to skirt safety rules at the Raleigh County operation...

Judge wont delay UBB superintendent sentencing

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:15:19 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge has refused to give prosecutors more time to obtain information from a former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent before the man is sentenced for his role in plotting to skirt safety rules at t...

Judge wont delay Upper Big Branch sentencing

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:37:53 -0500

Upper Big Branch obstruction conviction is upheld

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:14:57 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the conviction of a former Massey Energy security director who was found guilty of lying to investigators and trying to destroy evidence following the deaths of 29 miners at Masseys Upper Big ...

Plea hearing set for Massey official

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:48:57 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A plea hearing for a longtime Massey Energy executive who is cooperating with a federal investigation of the companys safety practices has been scheduled for mid-January. At the same time, prosecutors also are seeking to del...

Longtime Massey official cooperating as Upper Big Branch probe widens

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:00:31 -0500

Read the charges. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A longtime Massey Energy executive has agreed to cooperate with investigators as th...

Mine safety projects pitched to foundation

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:02:37 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mine safety and health experts from around the country gathered in Charleston Wednesday to begin talking about how $48 million in new research money could be best used to help protect the nations coal miners. Three top researchers lea...

More UBB charges coming shortly

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said Wednesday that his office expects to bring more criminal charges related to its Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster investigation, and that action in the probe will come "very shortly." Goodwin di...

MSHA still lags on accountability, audit finds

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:37:48 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration has made improvements, but federal mine safety regulators still fall short in fixing inspection and enforcement problems identified repeatedly as major problems, according to a new report from the Labor Departm...

Appeals court hears arguments in W.Va. mine case

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:38:45 -0400

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal appeals court did not sound receptive to former mine security chief Hughie Elbert Stovers claim that he was improperly convicted of lying to investigators after the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men at the Upper Big B...

Appeal heard in UBB security chiefs case

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:56:40 -0400

RICHMOND, Va. -- A federal appeals court did not sound receptive to former mine security chief Hughie Elbert Stovers claim that he was improperly convicted of lying to investigators after the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men at the Upper Big Branch Mine i...

UBB sentencing delayed again as probe continues

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:09:09 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal judge has again postponed the sentencing of a former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent, after prosecutors said the delay would assist their ongoing criminal investigation of the April 2010 mine disaster that killed 29 ...

Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial unveiled

mackenzie.mays@wvgazette.com (Mackenzie Mays) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:00:35 -0400

WHITESVILLE, W.Va. -- Chuck Mooney fought back tears as he took his first look at the Upper Big Branch Miners Memorial unveiled Friday in Whitesville. "Im a grown man," he said, "but Im not ashamed to cry. He was my baby brother."...

MSHA, prosecutors probe black lung problems

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:04:13 -0400

Read more: http://wvgazette.co...

The new face of black lung

chamby@publicintegrity.org (Chris Hamby) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:45:00 -0400
Graphic: Black lung by the numbers
Read more: GOP budget move stalls black lung plan PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- Donald Marcum knew he was at least a passive participant in something that was against the rules, maybe even criminal. Every couple of ...

GOP budget move stalls black lung plan

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:45:00 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Across the Appalachian coalfields these days, its hard to go anywhere without hearing about what mining lobbyists and political leaders call the Obama administrations "war on coal." Radio ads blare the message of los...

Dust reforms stalled by years of inaction

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:45:00 -0400
Read more: The new face of black lung
Miners say UBB mine cheated on dust sa...

Miners say UBB mine cheated on dust sampling

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:45:00 -0400
Read more: The new face of black lung
Dust reforms stalled by years of...

Appeal of UBB official's conviction set for Sept. 21

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:07:59 -0400
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Oral arguments have been scheduled in the case against a former Upper Big Branch Mine official convicted of ordering a subordinate to destroy documents. Hughie Elbert Stovers appeal will be argued at Sept. 21 in the U.S. 4th...

UBB probe could reveal additional criminality

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:55:46 -0400
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Federal prosecutors say their investigation of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster has entered a vital phase, with new information giving them key leads toward more potential criminal charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ru...