Mine Had 50 Safety Violations Last Month Alone

West Virginia site has spotty record on ventilation

By John Johnson, Newser Staff
Suggested by Abecedarian

Posted Apr 6, 2010 5:40 PM CDT

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Mine Had 50 Safety Violations Last Month Alone — A sign expressing hope for coal miners hangs at a home near an entrance to the Performance Coal Co. mines on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, in Montcoal, W. Va. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The West Virginia mine where an explosion killed at least 25 men has a checkered safety record, with more than 50 violations last month and 3 deaths since 1998. The violations include ventilation issues, which may be relevant if speculation about a methane explosion proves true, notes Andrea Stone at AOL News.

The mine is a subsidiary of Massey Energy, whose controversial CEO, Don Blankenship, has been dubbed by Rolling Stone one of the top 17 "Climate Killers." He recently was involved with a Supreme Court case in which he bought $3 million to elect a judge who cast the deciding vote is dismissing a $50 million verdict against his company.

(Read more Massey Energy stories.)