W.Va. gov: more scrutiny needed for mines with a history of violations like Upper Big Branch

W.Va. gov wants more scrutiny for troubled mines

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin said Tuesday there should be more scrutiny for mines with a history of safety violations like Upper Big Branch, where 29 people were killed in an explosion about a week ago.

Manchin told The Associated Press he wanted state regulators to target problems involving methane gas and coal dust levels, poor ventilation and electrical issues. Officials believe methane gas at Upper Big Branch caused the nation’s worst mining disaster since 1970, though investigators are not sure exactly how the blast happened.

“Right now, we need to make sure that the rules are being complied with. I can’t sit back and assume anymore,” the governor said. “We’ve been working around the clock to see what we can do to make sure everyone understands the seriousness of this, and how important it is and the responsibility that everyone has in making the mines as safe as we can.”

The governor said he wanted to review state law to make sure West Virginia officials are able to shut down unsafe mines and order immediate fixes without any delays. The Massey Energy mine has had a recent history of contesting safety violations that go unresolved for years.

“If you have a serious violation that can cause what we had … either I have the right to shut you down, or you have to act immediately,” Manchin told AP.

The governor offered no specific plans or timetable.

State inspectors have the authority to close mines temporarily, but that usually happens after a serious accident, said Jama Jarrett with the state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training.

Meanwhile, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin said the U.S. Senate will convene the first of a series of hearings to look at weaknesses in federal mine safety legislation. He said the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will meet later this month to look at whether the system encourages mine operators to challenge safety violations and delay penalties.

Massey’s chief executive, Don Blankenship, has defended its safety record and says it has about the same number of violations as the national average. The Richmond, Va.-based company has been under scrutiny for a string of safety violations, though Blankenship has disputed accusations that he puts profits ahead of safety.

Massey has been repeatedly cited and fined for problems with a system that vents methane and for allowing combustible dust to build up. Records showed the mine was cited for 44 violations during its most recent state inspection April 1, most of them involving electrical problems and ventilation. Last year, the state hit the mine with 287 citations, including 74 involving electricity.

Later Tuesday, Manchin is to attend an emergency meeting of a state board charged with writing mine safety regulations.

The state has nearly 200 underground coal mines, each required to have five annual inspections, including one focused on electrical systems. That requirement has been difficult to meet, in part because of turnover the state’s inspector ranks.

Officials have completed the grim task of removing the final bodies from the mine, paving the way for federal investigators to enter the mine.