CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia mining officials will
release the fourth and final report on the Upper Big Branch mine
disaster Feb. 23.
Leslie Fitzwater of the Office of Miners Health Safety and
Training says it will be presented to the victims' families at the
Raleigh County Convention Center in Beckley before it's released
publicly.
The 2010 explosion at the former Massey Energy mine in southern
West Virginia killed 29 men in the worst U.S. mine disaster in four
decades.
Reports already have been issued by the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, the United Mine Workers of America and an
independent panel appointed by the former governor.
All concluded Virginia-based Massey let methane and coal dust
build up in the mine. Worn and broken cutting equipment created the
spark it needed to explode.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
