Rescue Underway at Brody Mine in Boone County, W.Va.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: WCHS

Wharton, W.Va. (Trevor John Anderson) - Rescue efforts are underway right now at an underground coal mine in Boone County.

Eyewitness News is receiving multiple reports of a mining accident at Brody Mine #1. That mine is owned by Patriot Coal.

We know that at least two miners are trapped inside, and an emergency response team is on the scene.

Boone 911 tells us that they are unable to release any information right now.

Read more: http://wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/140513_25385.shtml?wap=0

---

We keep seeing this same movie play out in WV, with nothing done.
And remember, the House GOP blocked the safety reforms passed by the Senate following the Upper Big Branch disaster.

[Lasher]

1. Families in Boone County, WV wait after crews respond to mine

Last edited Tue May 13, 2014, 06:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Families of miners who work at Brody Mine are gathering at the mine's gate.

They tell 13 News that mine rescue teams and emergency crews responded to the Wharton location around 10:30 p.m. Monday night.

<snip>

In 2013, the mine received 253 'significant and substantial' violations from
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) during a 12-month review which ended last August.

The MSHA report says the violations show the mine had a disregard for the health and safety of its miners at the time the violations were issued.

http://www.wowktv.com/story/25498469/families-in-boone-county-wv-wait-after-crews-respond-to-mine

A long running dispute was settled last year after Patriot Coal tried to renege on pension obligations to retirees.

UPDATE: Family members confirm at least one miner has died from injuries he sustained in the Brody Mine #1 accident in Boone County, WV overnight.

[intaglio]

2. As of now no reports of numbers of miners who may be trapped

This worries me - a lot

[riqster]

3. Kick for the miners and their loved ones.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. If they call themselves ** Patriot ** Coal, does that make them immune from criticism?

Self-styled "Patriot" = ultimate stay out of jail card?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

7. Remember what Dr. Samuel Johnson said,

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. And Ambrose Bierce replied:

"Patriotism, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit it is the first."

[riqster]

15. Same company that spilled slurry into a WV River?

Same company name.

[KansDem]

17. That company's name is "Freedom Industries."

And the water company is named "West Virginia American Water"

Patriotic names for companies must be required for that part of the country.

[riqster]

18. No, that was a coal cleaning chemical.

I was talking about this one: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201402110032

[KansDem]

21. oh...

But still: "Patriot," "Freedom," "American"...I think we get the message.

[riqster]

22. We're a bunch of damn Commies for wanting regulation.

That message, yup, it is what they are saying.

[A Little Weird]

5. Damn

I hope they can get them out ok.

[pinboy3niner]

6. MINE TRAGEDY: Family members confirm at least one death in Boone County, WV mine

Posted: May 12, 2014 10:05 PM PDT
Updated: May 13, 2014 3:39 AM PDT

By Brandon Millman, Producer

UPDATE:

Family members confirm at least one miner has died from injuries he sustained in the Brody Mine #1 accident in Boone County, WV overnight.

The family identifies the fallen miner as Eric Legg. We spoke with his daughter before she discovered that he didn't survive. Her words were beautiful, "I can't wait to hug my dad when he walks out of the mine. My dad is a hero."

The death has not been confirmed by state or federal officials.

...


http://www.wboy.com/story/25498469/families-in-boone-county-wv-wait-after-crews-respond-to-mine

[TBF]

8. Just adding info to the file -

Bennett Hatfield
Age: 55

The Board promoted Bennett K. Hatfield to the role of President and Chief Operating Officer of Patriot, effective May 28, 2012. Mr. Hatfield, age 55, has been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Patriot since September 19, 2011. Prior to joining Patriot, Mr. Hatfield served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of International Coal Group, Inc., from March 2005 until [...] more

Patriot Coal Corporation
Compensation for 2011
Salary $168,000
Restricted stock awards $600,001
All other compensation $10,306
Option awards $591,347
Non-equity incentive plan compensation $193,451
Total Compensation $1,563,105

[Ikonoklast]

14. But they cannot afford to run a safe mining operation.

Men with soft hands who send others to die.

[TBF]

16. Exactly. nt

[okaawhatever]

23. Hatfield of Hatfield and McCoy fame? I'll bet he is, there aren't that many Hatfields in that neck

of the woods.

[pinboy3niner]

9. UPDATE: West Virginia State Police now confirm two dead

Two dead following roof collapse at Boone County, West Virginia mine
Updated: Tue 7:31 AM, May 13, 2014

WHARTON, W.Va. (WYMT/WSAZ/WOWK) - 7:25am Update 5-13-14:

West Virginia State Police confirm to our CBS sister station WOWK the two miners killed overnight died in a roof collapse. We do not know what led to the collapse.

We are told one of the miners was identified as Eric Legg. No word yet on the other miners identity.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Investigators-on-scene-of-incident-at-West-Virginia-mine-259031661.html

[malthaussen]

10. All part of the acceptable cost of cheap energy, doncha know?

One of the things that pissed me off when Mr Obama was running was his determination to increase coal mining because it would "create jobs." I wanted to ask him if he hoped his daughters would mine coal one day.

-- Mal

[okaawhatever]

25. When did President Obama say he was determined to increase coal mining? He promised, and did,

increase funding for "clean coal" technologies. Many coal plants have shut down under Obama and Romney ran big on Obama having a "war on coal". Do you have a source for your claim? In fact...

From Politifact:

Ohio coal industry says Obama promised to bankrupt coal-fired power plant builders

Results:
Mostly True

http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2011/mar/14/ohio-coal-association/ohio-coal-industry-says-obama-promised-bankrupt-co/

[hedgehog]

12. kick

[pinboy3niner]

13. Roof hazards were among safety standard violations that have been cited at the mine

Some previous MSHA violations, of the 250 at Brody Mine #1 include methane hazards, emergency preparedness/escapeway hazards, and roof hazards. In addition to MSHA violations at Brody mine - inspectors say the mine failed to report some injuries to the agency. Brody Mine #1 received more than 250 'significant and substantial' violations in a 2013 MSHA review.

http://www.wowktv.com/story/25498469/families-in-boone-county-wv-wait-after-crews-respond-to-mine

DoL letter Oct 2013 notifying co. of Pattern of Violations (4-page pdf)
http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/BrodyMiningLLC.pdf

[myrna minx]

19. .

[pinboy3niner]

20. R.I.P. Eric D. Legg and Gary P. Hensley

A spokesperson with the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training says Eric D. Legg, 48, of Twilight, and Gary P. Hensley, 46, of Chapmanville, died in the incident. No other injuries have been reported.

Inspectors remain at the site to investigate the incident. According to a news release, preliminary indications are that the incident resulted from a coal outburst.

According to Wikipedia, a coal outburst is the sudden and violent ejection of coal, gas and rock from a coal face and surrounding strata in an underground coal mine. When outbursts occur, they can be very serious events.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/charlestonnews/headlines/An-Incident-at-the-Brody-Mine-Is-Under-Investigation-259016551.html

[Brigid]

24. And this shit just keeps on happening.

[ALBliberal]

26. So much we could do here to keep Americans safer!

But then .... it would require letting go of the Beghazi obsession.
RIP WV coal miners

[Kingofalldems]

27. So the owners, if found culpable, will go to jail?