Surprise! Coal Mines That Are Repeatedly Sold, Gutted, Resold, Have Worst Safety Records

[hatrack]

A new federal government report shows that mines that changed ownership had worse safety records than mines where ownership did not change. According to an audit from the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, mines that changed ownership during a 17-year period were nearly twice as likely to have safety violations, and five times as likely to report severe accidents in the same period.

Mines that changed hands had on average 134 safety violations, compared with 43 safety violations at mines that did not change hands. That could have implications for the Ohio Valley, where a spate of coal bankruptcies has industry watchers worried about continued turmoil for coal producers and more turnover of mine ownership.

The audit comes after investigations from the Ohio Valley ReSource and NPR into unpaid debts for mine safety violations by coal mine operators, notably the companies belonging to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family. The Justice group’s mines owed more than $4 million in delinquent mine safety fines, and in May the Department of Justice filed a civil suit to recover those debts.

According to an analysis of mine safety data by the ReSource, injury rates for miners working in delinquent underground coal mines are 31 percent higher than rates at mines that are not currently delinquent.

EDIT

https://ohiovalleyresource.org/2019/08/22/mines-that-change-owners-have-worse-safety-record-audit-finds/

[hunter]

1. "Recycled" oil fields have similar problems.