Mine Probe Examines Airflow, Possible Tampering

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Source: NPR

Mine Probe Examines Airflow, Possible Tampering

May 17, 2010

The Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia was plagued by persistent problems with airflow in the weeks and months before a massive and deadly explosion in April, an NPR News investigation has found.

NPR has also learned that the FBI is focused both on the airflow problems and on possible tampering with safety monitors as part of its criminal probe.

The actual cause of the blast remains a mystery six weeks after 29 mineworkers died at the underground coal mine in Montcoal, W.Va. It was the nation's worst mining disaster in 40 years.

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NPR contacted miners and supervisors who had worked in the Upper Big Branch mine. Ten agreed to speak with NPR on condition of anonymity because they said they would lose their jobs or would be unable to find work elsewhere in the coal mining industry if their names were disclosed. Most still work for Massey Energy, the company that owns the mine.



Read more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126884971&live=1

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