The owner of the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, which was the scene of a deadly mine explosion last year, has agreed to pay more than $200 million in penalties, and to make changes to prevent accidents in the future.
Alpha Natural Resources, which bought out Massey Energy, the parent company of the mine, has agreed to pay $209 million in penalties. The fine is more than 40 times the size of any fine paid out in a coal mine explosion or disaster. The Upper Big Branch mine explosion in April 2010 was the worst mining accident in more than 40 years. The settlement comes at the conclusion of a criminal investigation into the disaster.
Under the terms of the agreement, Alpha Natural Resources will pay criminal restitution payments of $1. 5 million to the families of each of the 29 miners killed in the explosion. It will also pay $1.5 million to each of the 2 individuals injured in the explosion. Overall, the company will make restitution payments of up to $46 .5 million.
As part of the agreement, the company will also invest at least $80 million in improvements in mine safety at all of its underground mines. The company has agreed to measures including the installation of digital monitoring systems in all underground mines, ensuring that each mine has the required resources to meet legal requirements about handling of combustible gases, investment in equipment to monitor for concentrations of gold dust, and rock dusting equipment.
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