Feds cited Massey mine twice on day of explosion

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Massey Energy coal mine where 25 people died in an explosion was cited for violating two federal safety rules on the day of the blast.

Mine Safety and Health Administration records show the citations were issued Monday. The records do not specifically say whether they were issued before the explosion.

Neither federal mine safety officials nor Massey immediately responded to requests for comment Wednesday.

Records show one of the violations involved inadequate maps of escape routes from the Upper Big Branch mine. Underground coal mines are required to have maps detailing escape routes, oxygen caches, and refuge chambers.



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[alfredo]

1. The media needs to expose the CEO's ties to the teabaggers.

[JerseygirlCT]

2. I'm not a lawyer - don't even play one on TV

but what are the legal chances of criminal charges for something like this?

I don't mean fines. I mean jail time for the CEO and the board of directors, or whoever in the structure of the company is responsible?

I don't think fines mean squat to people who'd do this. I think they need to see some hard time staring them in the face before they quit risking people's lives like this.

[Tutonic]

3. The Feds are partially culpable. Either you shut them down after

a handful of violations or you demand real improvements. This is sort of like the Dog Catcher issuing me fifty-cent fines over the course of one year because my dog barks loudly during the night. If there is no teeth--to speak in the fines or severe consequences for me to pay up or quiet him down, then I'm likely to ignore the fines and he'll continue being a nuisance. The Feds love to mention their piddly ass fines after the fact--but should 25 lives have been taken over this? Hopefully, this tragedy will spark some real change.

[nightrain]

4. terribly sad. This is the state of "regulations". Fines are just a cost of doing business, rather

than a deterrent. Let's see how that works out with disease management insurance corporation regulating. LOL!