Donald Blankenship, whose former coal company Massey Energy was fined a record $10.8 million for safety violations connected to the worst mining accident in 40 years, has started a new mining company in Kentucky, Louisville Courier Journal reports.

Kentucky state incorporation records show that only a month after Blankenship agreed to resign as CEO of Massey Energy, he signed papers that name him as the president of a new mining company, McCoy Coal Group Inc. McCoy is the family name of Blankenship’s mother.

The news prompted an infuriated attack Wednesday from one of the most blunt coal-mine safety advocates in Congress, Rep. George Miller of California, reports Louisville Courier Journal:

“People who live in coal-mining states like Kentucky should be aware that a serial violator of basic mine safety law is coming to your state soon seeking to operate a mine,” Miller said in remarks on the House floor Wednesday.

“Mine companies under his leadership have engaged in dangerous and deadly practices that would pose a threat to mine workers in your state,” he said. “In the two years preceding the (accident) … they were cited over 10,000 times a year for violations.”

 

Miller’s comments came as Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE:ANR), the new owner of Massey’s coal mines, reached the largest settlement in the history of  U.S. mining disasters.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) report released on Tuesday concludes that Massey’s corporate culture was the root cause of the Upper Big Branch-South Mine tragedy in April 2010.

source:mining.com