Don Blankenship, President and CEO of Massey Energy (NYSE:MEE), sent a letter today to governors of four states over concerns he has with the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The states and governors Blankenship sent the letter to include Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, Illinois Gov. Patrick J. Quinn III and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.
What Blankenship addressed in the letters was the concern over the MSHA imposing new mine ventilation rules on the company without a cause of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine being determined yet.
He said in the letter, "Importantly, we have recently learned that MSHA had been warned about the safety of this ventilation system in Illinois before imposing it upon us."
Blankenship was concerned MSHA could be doing more harm than good, saying, "We believe experts in the state agencies better understand this and the unique mining conditions present in your states. We fully support budgetary measures that will allow the states to keep or attract the kinds of experts necessary to closely scrutinize mining plans with mine-specific issues in mind. As you are aware, mine ventilation is not a one-size-fits-all issue."
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