Massey defends safety record after mine blast

(News Terupdate) - Coal-producing giant Massey Energy defended its safety record Monday after the worst U.S. mine disaster in decades and rebuffed calls for its CEO to step down.

Stan Suboleski, a member of Massey's board of directors, acknowledged the company's Upper Big Branch Mine had a high number of citations for serious safety violations. But he said federal inspectors found "no major issues" with the mine a few days before the April 5 explosion that killed 29 miners, and no hazards were found the day of the explosion.

In addition, Suboleski said, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration required changes to the mine's ventilation system in September that company engineers found "significantly reduced" the amount of fresh air that reached the portion of the mine where work was taking place, and the company resisted that change "to the point of shutting down production for two days" before agreeing.

Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for MSHA, said the issue Subleski raised will be part of its investigation of the disaster.

"MSHA's accident investigation team will thoroughly examine the mine's ventilation plan and any changes required by MSHA in order to determine the volume of air flow," Louviere told CNN.

A preliminary report on the disaster by MSHA found that the Upper Big Branch mine had "a significant history of safety issues" and that the agency was closely monitoring Massey Energy. In 2009, federal inspectors issued 515 citations and orders at the Upper Big Branch mine, with 39 percent of them for "significant and substantial" violations.

Massey's safety record came under a harsh spotlight after the disaster at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Its CEO, Don Blankenship, has been an outspoken critic of federal regulators, and at least two investment funds have called for his resignation since the explosion earlier this month.

But another Massey director, Bobby Inman, said Blankenship had the board's confidence, and that changing leadership "in the midst of a crisis" would be a bad idea.

"When the crisis has subsided and we know the facts, we will maintain the highest standard of accountability and responsibility," Inman said during a news conference in Charleston, West Virginia. And Blankenship offered condolences to the families and co-workers of the men who died in the blast, saying, "We know there are no words to describe either their losses or the sorrow they are experiencing."

"In the past 20 years, we have done our best to engineer the dangers out of coal mining," Blankenship said. "We have made great strides and been proud of our accomplishments. But on April 5, we lost 29 great coal miners, and we don't know why. This has left us humbled and hurt and searching for answers."

Since the disaster, President Obama has ordered a review of mines with poor safety records. He called Massey's safety record "troubled" in an April 15 appearance. Massey called the criticism "regrettable."

Source : CNN

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Obama pays tribute to fallen West Virginia miners

Beckley, West Virginia (News Terupdate) - President Obama paid tribute Sunday to 29 workers killed in an explosion at a West Virginia coal mine earlier this month, saying they died "in pursuit of the American dream."

"All the hard work; all the hardship; all the time spent underground; it was all for their families. ... It was all in the hopes of something better," Obama said during a memorial service for the fallen miners in Beckley, West Virginia.

Obama and Vice President Biden, who were among a group of dignitaries who spoke at the service, met with the workers' families privately before the ceremony.

In his eulogy, delivered from behind a row of 29 white crosses, Obama sought to comfort those loved ones.

"We have been mourning with you throughout these difficult days," he said. "Our hearts have been aching with you."

Biden offered similar words of comfort, saying the fallen miners "represent, what I believe is the heart and soul and spine of this nation," and adding "a nation mourns them."

The April 5 blast at the Upper Big Branch Mine was the worst U.S. mine disaster in nearly 40 years.

Obama ordered a review earlier this month and blamed mine officials for lax regulation and lack of oversight.

On Sunday, he said: "We cannot bring back the 29 men we lost. ... Our task ... is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy. To do what must be done, individually and collectively, to assure safe conditions underground."

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, who was a constant presence during the recovery efforts at the mine, also spoke at the service, telling the crowd of mourners that it was the day "to begin the healing process."

Manchin said each of the 29 men, like their fathers and grandfathers, had not only a strong commitment to their work, but also "a deep, patriotic pride that the work they did and the energy they produced made America strong and free."

He called on Americans to "say a prayer for every coal miner working today," and to "not only thank them -- but to honor them for their work and their patriotism."

He also made a vow: "After today, we turn our focus on their legacy," he said. "I don't have the answers about why this has happened, but I promise you we will find the answers."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-West Virginia, echoed that vow during his remarks at the service, saying: "We will pass legislation to meet the requirements of those answers. And we will do it for you, the miners of West Virginia and America."

"West Virginia, all of West Virginia, is in pain, and not without some anger," Rockefeller added. "But we will find our solace and bind together as a community because that is what West Virginians do."

The somber service began with Manchin accompanying families as they lay helmets on top of 29 crosses.

A photo of each of the men killed in the disaster was displayed on large screens, and the crowd applauded for each one.

The service closed on a stirring note, as one by one, each of the headlamps on the symbolic helmets were lighted while a chorus sang "This Light of Mine."

Source : CNN

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