Massey to up output at other mines after blast

Operators of the mine at the center of West Virginia's mining disaster came under huge pressure Wednesday for their safety record, as efforts stalled to find four workers still missing.At least 25 coal miners died in Monday's blast, the worst US mining accident in more than a quarter of a century, and owner Massey Energy faces accusations it ignored problems with the system that ventilates the deadly methane gas.

Federal prosecutors Wednesday unveiled the most serious criminal charges yet in the West Virginia explosion that killed 29 workers. The new charges involve officials at former mine owner Massey Energy who were directly responsible for managing Upper Big Branch.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Two coal miners say they quit Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch mine in the final months before an explosion because they thought it was going to blow up. But Massey officials insist samples showed the air was safe just before the blast that killed 29 workers.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Massey Energy's investigation into a mine explosion that killed 29 workers says the blast was fueled by a natural-gas surge and not coal dust, contradicting the findings of federal regulators and an independent probe.

Massey Energy "has a totally clear conscience" about the explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia that killed 29 mine workers in April, CEO Don Blankenship told coal industry analysts Wednesday. The company is now» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us