SOME GOOD NEWS...

I recall that one miner said that some executives should go to jail because of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster and it now looks like that may happen.

Ex-coal exec implicates ex-CEO in W.Va. mine case
Ex-Massey coal exec pleads guilty, implicates ex-CEO in case tied to fatal W.Va. mine blast
By John Raby, Associated Press | Associated Press – 38 mins ago
BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- A former president of a Massey Energy subsidiary implicated the company's chief executive officer for the first time in safety violations as he pleaded guilty Thursday to charges resulting from an investigation into the 2010 explosion at a Massey mine that killed 29 men.

David Hughart, 54, entered the plea to two federal conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court. He was accused of working with others to ensure miners at White Buck Coal Co. and other Massey-owned operations got advance warning about surprise federal inspections between 2000 and March 2010.

The judge asked Hughart if there was a policy to give advanced warnings and, if so, what company officials ordered the policy.

"What officers are you talking about?" Judge Irene Berger asked.

"The chief executive officer," he replied.

The CEO at the time, Don Blankenship, was not mentioned by name. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby declined comment about Blankenship after the hearing because the investigation remains ongoing.