Reply #6: This coal company is as filthy as they come

[PVnRT]

Lexington Herald-Leader

Records show inspectors from the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing have issued 31 orders to close sections of the mine or to shut down equipment because of safety violations since January 2009. Those records also show an additional 44 citations for safety violations that didn't result in closure orders.

The mine has been operated by Webster County Coal LLC since Sept. 8, 1996. Since 2005, the operator has received 2,973 citations on the mine from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Of that total, 968 were considered significant and substantial.

The Dotiki operator was cited 216 times so far in 2010, according to MSHA's Web site.

In 2009, the company was cited 649 times, more than the 458 citations issued last year against the West Virginia mine that blew up April 5 killing 29.

On April 13, MSHA cited the operator for not notifying it quickly of an accident and for not preserving an accident site. Twice inspectors issued closure orders.

Not to mention they were also believed to be involved in the firing of a government employee who refused to issue them new permits.