2010 West Virginia Mine Explosion CEO Indicted

[libby]

Remember the big explosion in a West Virginia mine 4 years ago that killed 29 people? The former CEO, now retired, has been indicted. Never thought it would happen.

Friday, November 14 2014

Former Massey Energy head indicted in Upper Big Branch Mine explosion
By John Raby November 13 at 9:50 PM

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The former chief executive who oversaw the West Virginia mine that exploded in 2010, killing 29 people, was indicted Thursday on federal charges related to a safety investigation that followed the blast.

Massey Energy chief executive Don Blankenship, who is accused of conspiring to violate safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch Mine, is the ­highest-ranking executive to face charges in the blast. The explosion and investigation afterward led to the overhaul of the way the federal government oversees mine safety.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said a federal grand jury indicted Blankenship on charges including conspiracy to violate mandatory federal mine safety and health standards, conspiracy to impede federal mine safety officials, making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and securities fraud.

Blankenship could face up to 31 years in prison if convicted.

His attorney, William W. Taylor III, said in a statement that Blankenship "is entirely innocent of these charges. He will fight them and he will be acquitted."

"Don Blankenship has been a tireless advocate for mine safety," the statement said. "His outspoken criticism of powerful bureaucrats has earned this indictment. He will not yield to their effort to silence him. He will not be intimidated."

News about Blankenship's indictment spread fast. Pam ­Napper, whose son, Josh Napper, was among the miners killed at Upper Big Branch, said she was elated.

"I think it's about time," Napper said. "He was a big part of this. He knew what was going on in that mine and continued to let it go. I hope he gets what he deserves."

In February 2013, a former longtime subordinate testified that Blankenship ordered the practice of warning coal miners about surprise federal inspections. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said the root cause of the blast was Massey's "systematic, intentional and aggressive efforts" to conceal life-threatening problems. MSHA said managers even maintained two sets of pre-shift inspection books — an accurate one for themselves, and a sanitized one for regulators.

The indictment says Blankenship conspired to violate mine safety and health standards at Upper Big Branch from January 2008 until April 2010, when the explosion occurred.

— Associated Press

www.washingtonpost.com

[The Troll]

  Justice has sure been slow on catching this murderer.     Talk about your liars,  your greedy son-of-a-bitches, this man need to go to prison for life.  He kill these men as sure as if he had shot them with a shotgun.      I don't care which one is used, but use one and also take all of his ill gotten gains.      He  paid himself $11,000,000 the same  year as these deaths happened.   

[duke jupiter]

Having lost a great g-father and g-father to coal mine accidents and both me dad and  me workin' in the  mines I hope he is held accountable for his actions.

Best regards,
Duke (native son) Jupiter

[libby]

  Justice has sure been slow on catching this murderer.     Talk about your liars,  your greedy son-of-a-bitches, this man need to go to prison for life.  He kill these men as sure as if he had shot them with a shotgun.      I don't care which one is used, but use one and also take all of his ill gotten gains.      He  paid himself $11,000,000 the same  year as these deaths happened.   

Having lost a great g-father and g-father to coal mine accidents and both me dad and  me workin' in the  mines I hope he is held accountable for his actions.

Best regards,
Duke (native son) Jupiter

We followed it for a while on 4seasons, and the last I remember a foreman had been singled out to blame.

Too bad they can't sentence Don Blankenship to hard labor in a coal mine, crawling on his knees, with the only light that of a carbide lamp on his hat.

[Locutus]

Too bad they can't sentence Don Blankenship to hard labor in a coal mine, crawling on his knees, with the only light that of a carbide lamp on his hat.

Hopefully sending him straight into a pocket of methane.