EKB News

Last week, U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar in Pikeville rejected Massey Energy Co.'s request to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to close the Freedom Energy Mine as a repeat violator of safety laws. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration brought the lawsuit in November, seeking to have the mine closed until problems were fixed. Since Thapar's ruling, Massey has announced plans to close the mine, saying its advancing age and extensive underground workings make it too difficult to avoid violations.