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Mine Safety In America

Coverage of mine safety and what led to a blast that killed 29 in West Virginia.
Don Blankenship, former CEO of Massey Energy, is accused of thwarting mine safety enforcement and conspiring to violate mine safety law. Massey Energy owned the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, which exploded in 2010, killing 29.

Don Blankenship, former CEO of Massey Energy, is accused of thwarting mine safety enforcement and conspiring to violate mine safety law. Massey Energy owned the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, which exploded in 2010, killing 29. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The Two-Way

Former CEO Indicted For Alleged Role In Deadly Mine Disaster

Don Blankenship is accused of defying safety regulators when he ran the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia. A blast at the mine killed 29 people in 2010.

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Mine helmets and painted crosses at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine, as a memorial to the 29 miners killed there.

Mine helmets and painted crosses at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine, as a memorial to the 29 miners killed there. Jeff Gentner/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Jeff Gentner/AP

The Two-Way

Mine Disaster Probe Leads To Conspiracy Charges Against Former Executive

David C. Hughart, former president of a Massey Energy subsidiary, is pleading guilty. The charges relate to a corporate culture that investigators say contributed to the nation's worst mine disaster in 40 years. Twenty nine miners died at one of Massey's West Virginia mines in a 2010 explosion.

At an April 25, 2010, service in Beckley, W. Va., for the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion, helmets — placed on crosses — were lined up in their honor.

At an April 25, 2010, service in Beckley, W. Va., for the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion, helmets — placed on crosses — were lined up in their honor. Jewel Samad /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Jewel Samad /AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

West Virginia Report On Mine Disaster Points To State's Shortcomings

While a state review of the 2010 disaster that killed 29 coal miners isn't as pointed in assigning blame as some other reports, it does single out weaknesses in state laws that make it difficult to hold those responsible accountable.

West Virginia State Police direct traffic at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine in Montcoal, W.Va., April 5, 2010.

West Virginia State Police direct traffic at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine in Montcoal, W.Va., April 5, 2010. AP hide caption

itoggle caption AP

Mine Disaster Probe Finds Intimidation, False Papers

A federal investigation of last year's deadly explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine finds choosing safety over production was a firing offense. It also reported alleged instances of falsification of official safety reports.

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Mine helmets and painted crosses sit at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine on April 5, as a memorial to the 29 miners killed there one year earlier.

Mine helmets and painted crosses sit at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine on April 5, as a memorial to the 29 miners killed there one year earlier. Jeff Gentner/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Jeff Gentner/AP

The Two-Way

Agency: Mine Operator Kept Two Sets Of Records

At the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 men died in April 2010, there was an internal set of reports about safety problems and another set kept for federal inspectors that didn't mention the hazards, federal officials say.

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Two officers with the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office stand guard in front of the Upper Big Branch coal mine several days after the April 5, 2010, explosion that killed 29 workers in Montcoal, W.Va.

Two officers with the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office stand guard in front of the Upper Big Branch coal mine several days after the April 5, 2010, explosion that killed 29 workers in Montcoal, W.Va. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Report Rips Massey For 'Deviation' From Safety Rules

The first independent investigative report about last year's disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine was released Thursday. It details the corporate and government failures that led to an explosion that killed 29 mine workers in West Virginia.

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Massey Energy shut down its Freedom Mine in Kentucky, which was targeted by federal regulators for the toughest enforcement action ever.

Massey Energy shut down its Freedom Mine in Kentucky, which was targeted by federal regulators for the toughest enforcement action ever. Howard Berkes/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Howard Berkes/NPR

In Merger, Massey Mine Execs Would Get Top Jobs

Alpha Natural Resources announced late Friday that if its merger with Massey Energy is approved, several Massey managers will get key roles in the new combined company — including one executive who presided over the company while it compiled some of the most criticized safety records in the coal mining industry.

Mine helmets and painted crosses sit at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine, a memorial to the 29 miners killed in an explosion April 5, 2010.

Mine helmets and painted crosses sit at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine, a memorial to the 29 miners killed in an explosion April 5, 2010. Jeff Gentner/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Jeff Gentner/AP

Questions Remain Year After Mine Explosion

A year after 29 miners died in a blast at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, the nation's worst coal mine accident in 40 years is still not fully explained. And the scope of the disaster still alarms mine safety experts.

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