MSHA assesses civil penalties for Martin County coal sludge spill/Two violations receive maximum fine

摘要

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has assessed Martin County Coal Co. 100,000 dollars in civil penalties, the legal maximum, for violations of federal mine safety laws which resulted in the release of 300 million gallons of coal sludge from a southeastern Kentucky impoundment in October 2000. "The magnitude of the Martin County Spill clearly justifies issuing the maximum fines in this case," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "We are also in the midst of evaluating MSHA's procedures to reduce the risk of these disasters in the future."