Ex-official says U.S. government covered up spill cause

[mia]

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-04-02/s_22430.asp

Friday, April 02, 2004
By Reuters

NEW YORK — A whistle-blower has accused the Bush administration of trying to protect the company responsible for a 2000 coal slurry spill for political reasons, according to CBS Television's 60 Minutes.

On the show to be aired on Sunday, Jack Spadaro, former head of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy, said the Department of Labor whitewashed a report that held mining company Massey Energy Co., a contributor to the Republican Party, responsible for the spill.

<snip>

He called it "interference with a federal investigation of the most serious environmental disaster in the history of the eastern United States."

CBS said the Richmond, Virginia, company was a "generous" contributor to the Republican Party.

The official said his investigation found Massey Energy, which owned the impoundment, knew the containment was weak and had leaked once before. He said the company could have faced large fines and criminal charges.

But he said the MSHA curtailed his report and cited the company for two violations rather that the eight he sought. Spadaro said he refused to sign the report and resigned from the investigation....

[opihimoimoi]

1. The cozy Pub "Club House" of "contributors"

Make interesting read.

These guys know how to skirt the Laws of the Land.... invest in the Pubs.

[Roy]

2. Nothing interesting here...

Just another disgruntled employee? How many are we up to now?
did he vote for Gore?
Quick.... Somebody check, and put the slime machine on stand by.

[mia]

6. Slime Alert

Who'd you vote for, Roy?

[KAZ]

7. He's being sarcastic. n/t

n/t

[pansypoo53219]

3. what?

quid pro quo from george??? but but but he's a chrisian.
pricks

[mia]

4. More on Spardaro and environmental disaster...

http://www.ohvec.org/links/news/archive/2003/fair_use/11.html#18

This story originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

11/10/03
Mine academy official to be fired, report says

The Bush administration intends to fire the superintendent of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beckley, according to a report Sunday in The New York Times.

In a 10-page complaint sent Oct. 2 to Jack Spadaro, his superiors accused him of “abusing his authority, failing to follow orders and proper procedures, and misusing a government credit card by taking unauthorized cash advances that cost the government $22.60 in bank fees,” according to the Times....

<snip>

Environmental groups called the Martin County spill one of the largest environmental disasters in the Eastern United States. It blackened streams, killed fish and shut down water treatment plants in Martin County, as well as Mingo and Wayne counties in West Virginia.

In 2001, Spadaro resigned in protest from the team investigating the spill. He said Bush administration officials interfered with its investigation.

<snip>

He also questioned no-bid contracts he says were given to friends of Assistant Secretary of Labor David Lauriski.

According to the Times, in the complaint against Spadaro, mining official Frank Schwamberger wrote, “I have considered your 26 years of service, recent satisfactory performance ratings, and the fact that you have no prior disciplinary action taken against you in determining the level of discipline to propose. However, these factors do not outweigh the seriousness of your actions.”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story originally provided by AP and the Daily Mail

11/11/03
Mine safety agency says it is firing academy superintendent
By MARTHA BRYSON HODEL
Associated Press Writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The federal mine safety agency intends to fire the superintendent of its Mine Health and Safety Academy for abusing his authority in supervising employees.

The agency notified Jack Spadaro of its intent on Oct. 2. Last week, Spadaro's lawyer relayed a 46-page response to the agency's charges and a request for a stay to the federal Office of Special Counsel, suggesting the Mine Safety and Health Administration has "selectively targeted Mr. Spadaro.''

"Independent, objective witnesses and the documentary evidence ... establish that each and every allegation lodged against Mr. Spadaro is wholly without merit,'' lawyer Jason Huber said in a Nov. 6 letter to MSHA.

<snip>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story originally provided by AP and the Lexington Herald-Leader

11/12/03
Environmentalists upset over mining official's firing
By Dylan T. Lovan
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOUISVILLE - Environmental groups in Kentucky and West Virginia are upset over the apparent ouster of a longtime federal mining official who was critical of the government's handling of a devastating coal slurry spill in eastern Kentucky in 2000.

"It's horrifying to me that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. This is just an example of the power of King Coal," said Patty Wallace, a Louisa activist and former chairwoman of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.

<snip>

The devastating spill from a coal waste pond owned by Martin County Coal sent 300 million gallons of black gooey sludge into Eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia streams.

"These creeks are still running black in Eastern Kentucky," said Perrin de Jong, coordinator of Kentucky Heartwood, which focuses on forestry and mining issues. He said the charges against Spadaro are so minor "that anyone in their right mind is not going to believe that that's why he's being fired."

<snip>

[Lostnote03]

5. 250,000 gals...

.....of the most awful concoction of sludge residue swept along the creeks and tributaries of E.Ky.....Ky has "lost" close to 1,000 miles of creeks and tributaries within the last 10 yrs. and the Martin sludge pond break travelled 100s of miles.....KY has the second most amount of running water, Alaska is first.....The BARBARIANS that control this states economic/enviromental direction are not centered here.....They are hidden behind gated communities where energy barons reside......There are currently about 20 power generating construction applications pending which will only contribute to the energy colonization of this beautiful part of our country.....Coal is King here and with the GOP now in control of the Governors Office, look for a windfall of application approvals.....The sludge break occurred at the time of the 2000 elections so the media was too busy covering Bushs ass to even consider exposing this tragedy.....If interested the Lexington Herald Leader has a good series dedicated to this issue.....BTW, the fine was $100,000!!!!

[mia]

9. Sludge residue

...the Lexington Herald Leader has a good series dedicated to this issue....

Thanks Lostnote03,
Found the series by searching articles - older than 7 days for Spadaro.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/


Photo

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

8. its shit like this that makes you wanna puke

I'll concede one thing to Ralph Nader, if bush* is re-elected, after
4 more years, the GOP will be dead as a political force. bush* will
run this country so far into the dirt, that his kids will have their
own whistleblower books out on the shelves.