Upper Big Branch Foreman Agrees to Give Up License for 3 Years

A worker at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine has agreed to surrender his underground assistant foreman license for three years.

The agreement settles allegations that Jeremy L. Burghduff didn’t turn on his methane detector when he was supposed to check for the explosive gas.

An explosion at the former Massey Energy mine killed 29 miners on April 5, 2010. The state Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training had alleged that Burghduff had his gas detector off in late March and early April 2010, including the day of the explosion.

Under the agreement, Burghduff will keep his underground miner license. He can apply for licenses for assistant underground or surface foreman, or belt examiner at the end of the three-year period.

The Charleston Gazette first reported the agreement.