Thursday, September 23, 2010
Massey Seeks To Stop Subpoenas
WEST VIRGINIA....
Massey Energy wants a Raleigh County Circuit Court judge to bar investigators from compelling its employees to answer questions about the April 5th explosion that killed 29 miners at its Upper Big Branch mine. Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship says there's evidence some victims knew methane gas was pouring into the Upper Big Branch mine before the explosion, and some of the miners cut off electricity to the cutting head of the main mining machine, locked the machine's coal conveyer and apparently were trying to run for safety when they died. Massey's theory is that methane flooded the mine so fast it overwhelmed safeguards, such as ventilation equipment that Massey argues was weakened by federal regulators. Massey contends MSHA is using the state to expand its narrow subpoena power, and that, while the state has subpoena power for private interviews, MSHA only can compel witnesses to testify at formal public hearings.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:49 AM 
