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Mine Regulators Under FBI Investigation

Mine Safety and Health officials may have been bribed

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 30, 2010 12:04 PM CDT

(Newser) – The FBI has launched a criminal investigation of the Mine Safety and Health Administration in connection with the Upper Big Branch mine disaster, and the agency is looking into allegations regulators took bribes from Massey Energy, sources tell NPR. Massey, which owned the mine, is also under investigation for criminal negligence. Massey says it's not aware of the allegations and is cooperating with investigators.

In this April 4, 2010 file photo, West Virginia State Police direct traffic at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Coal Mine in Montcoal, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

hopeandchange

Apr 30, 2010 9:20 PM CDT

so one layabout government crat organization is going to investigate another layabout government crat organization. oh yea, we know how this going to turn out,

"looks like you guys did your job. lets do a catered lunch, after thats its golf on my budget ok?"

odowd80

Apr 30, 2010 6:07 PM CDT

The "Free Market" system doesn't work without government regulation. Corporations will simply lie, cheat, and steal to make the most money they possibly can. Imagine a football game with no rules or referees...who would want to see that?

cornelison

Apr 30, 2010 5:48 PM CDT

Conservatives don't like unions, rules or regulations for businesses. This is going to continue unless the voters elect politicians who believe in regulation.

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NPR (Source Grid »)

US • Crime & Courts

FBI • coal mining • coal mine • mining accidents • mine disasters • Massey Energy • West Virginia mine explosion • Upper Big Branch mine • Mine Safety and Health Administration

More Newser Stories

Last 4 Miners Found Dead

Death toll makes explosion worst coal-mining disaster in 40 years

(NEWSER) - Dashing hopes that they had survived the massive explosion that killed 25 of their colleagues, four coal miners were found dead early this morning in a mine in Montcoal, W. Va., making Monday's incident the worst coal-mining disaster in over a generation. The head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration said the next steps are recovering the bodies and investigating the blast, the Charleston Gazette reports. "I can assure you that no stone will be left unturned," said Kevin Stricklin. More»

West Virginia Coal Mine Settles for $210M in Disaster

Agreement allows for individual criminal prosecutions

(AP) - The owner of a West Virginia coal mine where an explosion killed 29 men will pay nearly $210 million in a historic settlement arising from the worst US coal mining disaster in decades. An attorney with knowledge of the Upper Big Branch settlement provided details to the AP. The agreement includes more than $46 million in criminal restitution to the miners' families. It also allows for individual criminal prosecutions. More»

Massey Hid Factors Behind W.Va. Mine Blast

Federal report concludes that Upper Big Branch disaster was preventable

(NEWSER) - The explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 people was caused by safety concerns that owner Massey Energy was well aware of, but hid from federal regulators, according to a new report from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. “This much we already know. The tragedy at the Upper Big Branch mine was preventable,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a video this morning at a briefing on the findings in West Virginia, according to the Wall Street Journal . More»

Feds Run Surprise Inspections on 57 Coal Mines

For some reason, they're worried they might be dangerous

(AP) - Nearly 60 problem coal mines have been hit with surprise inspections aimed at preventing another explosion like the one that killed 29 miners in West Virginia, the nation's chief mine safety regulator said yesterday. The raids targeted 57 mines with a history of violations, the Mine Safety and Health Administration said, including eight belonging to Massey Energy, the $4.17 billion company that owned the doomed West Virginia mine. More»

Coal Mines Blow Off Safety Fines

US operations have almost $90m in unpaid

(NEWSER) - US coal mining operations have racked up plenty of safety regulations in recent years, but they simply haven’t bothered to pay thee resulting fines. Of the $113 million in major penalties the federal government has dished out over the past 3 years, coal companies have paid just $8 million, USA Today found, after poring over public records. More»

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Mine Regulators Under FBI Investigation

Mine Safety and Health officials may have been bribed

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

FBI • coal mining • coal mine • mining accidents • mine disasters • Massey Energy • West Virginia mine explosion • Upper Big Branch mine • Mine Safety and Health Administration

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More Newser Stories

Last 4 Miners Found Dead

Death toll makes explosion worst coal-mining disaster in 40 years

West Virginia Coal Mine Settles for $210M in Disaster

Agreement allows for individual criminal prosecutions

Massey Hid Factors Behind W.Va. Mine Blast

Federal report concludes that Upper Big Branch disaster was preventable

Feds Run Surprise Inspections on 57 Coal Mines

For some reason, they're worried they might be dangerous

Coal Mines Blow Off Safety Fines

US operations have almost $90m in unpaid

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