EKB News

State mine safety officials announced Wednesday that they are delaying the release of a report on the investigation of a fire that killed two miners at a Massey Energy Co. mine amid charges the release date was chosen to influence the upcoming general election. The Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training originally planned to release the report Thursday, five days before the election. The release was set to occur during a meeting of the Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, but the agency failed to file proper notice of the meeting as required by state law. Massey's ownership of the mine has added political overtones to the meeting and the report that addresses the Jan. 19 fire that killed miners Don I. Bragg, and Ellery Elvis Hatfield. The pair perished after they were separated from their crew in the smoke-filled mine and could not escape. Massey Chief Executive Don Blankenship told The Associated Press the scheduling was an abuse of state power and done to influence voters.