Massey Energy News

Massey Adviser Says He Warned of Danger Months Before Upper Big Branch Blast

Former Massey Energy Co. Chief Executive Officer Donald Blankenship was warned about pervasive safety problems at his company’s mining operations 10 months before a fatal explosion killed 29 men, a retired government mine inspector told a West Virginia jury. Bill …

Massey Warning System Kept Miners a Step Ahead of Inspectors

Massey Energy executives used an advanced warning system at the company’s Upper Big Branch mine to alert workers as soon as federal inspectors arrived on site, a former miner testified Thursday at the criminal trial for ex-chief executive Donald Blankenship. …

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 …

Charged Exec Cooperating in West Virginia Mine Blast Probe

Federal prosecutors investigating the West Virginia mine explosion that killed 29 men widened their net Wednesday, filing criminal charges against a longtime Massey Energy executive who worked closely with former CEO Don Blankenship – a move signaling where their sights …

West Virginia Slurry Pollution Case Headed for Trial

Mediation has failed to settle a lawsuit by hundreds of Boone County residents who blame coal companies for contaminating their water supplies. Attorney Roger Decanio said this week that the case against Massey Energy and four subsidiaries is headed for …

Alpha Will Try to Settle West Virginia Mine Blast Lawsuits

Alpha Natural Resources will try to negotiate settlement of 18 wrongful death lawsuits with families of men killed at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine last year. Virginia-based Alpha bought Massey Energy’s former operations in June. The Wall Street Journal …