Mine Where Explosion Occurred Was (21 times) Cited for (XPLOSIV) Hazards ( [View All]

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aAcRjFr7_TNs&refer=top_world_news

Mine Where Explosion Occurred Was Cited for Hazards (Update2)

Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Federal authorities issued 21 citations last year for a build-up of combustible materials at the West Virginia mine where 12 men died, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics.

The Sago mine, owned by billionaire investor Wilbur Ross's International Coal Group Inc., was cited for a total of 208 federal safety violations last year, up from 68 in 2004, according to the Labor Department. The largest individual fine last year was $440; the citations for combustible materials carried fines of $60.

When asked about the facility's safety record at a news conference yesterday, Ben Hatfield, International Coal's chief executive officer, said the Ashland, Kentucky-based company has improved safety conditions since acquiring the mine last year.

``We have no interest of getting into the finger-pointing of who is responsible for what, and what went wrong a year ago,'' Hatfield said. ``This is a mine that operated for some significant time before my company even had involvement with it; so much of the bad history that you're talking about was beyond our reach and ability to control.'' <snip>