By Ken Ward Jr. – July 30, 2010

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Massey Energy’s Performance Coal Co. is “grandstanding” in its lawsuit challenging the government’s procedures for investigating the deaths of 29 workers at the company’s Upper Big Branch Mine, a federal administrative law judge has ruled.

Judge Margaret Miller of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission blasted Massey subsidiary Performance Coal in a ruling that turned down the company’s request for an expedited hearing in its lawsuit.

Miller concluded that she was “troubled by the misrepresentations” made by Massey lawyers in the case, by the company’s “overstated allegations” and by the “waste of time and resources” in filing of documents without information helpful to resolving the matter.

Read more at http://wvgazette.com/rssFeeds/201007300831

By Robin Everett of Portland, Oregon. Robin is an advocate with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign.

Imagine not being able to trust that the water you drink. Imagine not being able to even bathe in your own water for fear of getting sick. This is a real danger many Americans face daily due to our dependence on a dirty and dangerous form of energy: coal.

For decades, the coal industry has told the American people that coal ash is safe, but we know the truth. If the BP Oil Disaster has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t just take the polluter’s word for it anymore.

Read more at http://www.blueoregon.com/2010/07/colstrip-the-dangerous-plant/

July 29, 2010 by Ken Ward Jr.

The West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training just reported that a coal miner was killed this morning at CONSOL Energy’s Loveridge Mine near Fairview in Marion County.

Read more at http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/07/29/more-bad-news-another-w-va-coal-miner-killed/

By: Associated Press – July 28, 2010

Massey Energy could resume mining in the Upper Big Branch mine within six months.
Massey would build a new entrance into Upper Big Branch, and the company’s CEO Don Blankenship told analysts Wednesday that production would start at perhaps 20,000 tons a month.

Read more at http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=15852

Associated Press | Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010

BILLINGS — A conservation group has asked the federal Surface Transportation Board to reconsider its approval of a proposed $550 million railroad that would open new areas of Montana’s Powder River Basin to coal mining.
The Northern Plains Resource Council said in its request Monday that the board’s 2007 approval of the Tongue River Railroad failed to take into account how burning coal contributes to climate change.

Read more at http://helenair.com/news/article_dd19c3f0-9a10-11df-82a6-001cc4c03286.html

PHILADELPHIA (July 27, 2010) – Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued a final Clean Water Act permit to Coal-Mac Inc. for the Pine Creek Surface Mine project in Logan County, West Virginia.

Consistent with the Clean Water Act and the recent EPA guidance on mountain top mining, the Agency’s consultation with the Company and the Corps led to significant changes to the permit that will reduce potential adverse impacts to water quality and avoid significant degradation of the aquatic ecosystems in the Pine Creek watershed. The key changes include reductions to stream impacts, protection of water quality through a strict conductivity level, enhanced mitigation and restoration, and reduction of cumulative impacts. EPA also reached an agreement with the company related to sequencing of valley fill construction. The company may only proceed with the first valley fill and any additional valley fills will have to be evaluated individually as part of the agreement. If EPA and the Corps find that any of the valley fills are adversely impacting water quality, we will not approve additional mining at the site. The company agreed to meet all conditions presented by the Agency.
Read more at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/47D706666B2E57118525776E00405AD8

by Ken Ward Jr. – July 26, 2010

While most of the media attention is rightly focused on the disaster at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine, a low-profile criminal investigation is continuing at Patriot Coal’s Federal No. 2 Mine in Monongalia County.

It’s not clear if we’re any closer to finding out more about what was going on at Federal No. 2 … but a key hearing in federal court seems headed to be delayed until perhaps early in 2011.

Read more at http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/07/26/criminal-probe-continues-at-federal-no-2/

By Ken Ward Jr. – July 20, 2010

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three foremen from Massey Energy’s Aracoma Alma No. 1 Mine admitted Tuesday that they not only failed to conduct required mine evacuation drills, but also faked official record book entries that would cover up their crimes.

Foremen Edward R. Ellis Jr., 38, of Justice, Donald R. Hagy Jr., 47, of Gilbert, and Michael A. Plumley, 38, of Delbarton all pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. to not conducting the mandated escapeway drills at the Logan County underground mine.

Read more at http://wvgazette.com/rssFeeds/201007200758

By BRUCE RUSHTON (bruce.rushton@sj-r.com) – THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER – Posted Jul 17, 2010 @ 11:30 PM

Coal mining companies are supposed to clean up after themselves, and the government is supposed to ensure groundwater is pure.

But environmental activists fear that mining companies in central and southern Illinois may poison aquifers by injecting potentially dangerous pollutants into the ground with inadequate review by regulators and no notice to the public.
Read more at http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x242417430/Activists-raise-concerns-about-coal-mine-slurry-injection-in-Illinois

By Ken Ward Jr. — July 17, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va.

…Federal inspectors found that Cain had “little mining experience” and “minimal training,” and criticized Massey for overloading the supply cars.

“Adequate clearance was not provided,” said the June 2009 report signed by Robert Hardman, district manager of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Southern West Virginia office. “The supplies also hindered the motor operator’s visibility.”

Read more at http://wvgazette.com/rssFeeds/201007170265