The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

April 14, 2010

Blankenship under pressure to resign from Massey board

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

BECKLEY — Under fire since an underground explosion killed 29 miners at a Massey Energy subsidiary in Raleigh County, chief executive officer Donald Blankenship is facing pressure to resign from the board of directors.

Blankenship offered no response Tuesday after a Massey stockholder trustee accused him of failing to deal with risks at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal.

“Massey’s cavalier attitude toward risk and callous disregard for the safety of its employees has exacted a horrible cost on dozens of hard-working miners and their loved ones,” New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said.

“This tragedy was a failure both of risk management and effective board oversight. Blankenship must step down and make room for more responsible leadership at Massey.”

DiNapoli is the sole trustee of the $129.4 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, holder of 303,500 shares of Massey stock with an assigned value of nearly $14.1 million.

Months before last Monday’s tragedy at the mine, DiNapoli filed a shareholder resolution calling for Massey to declassify its board so shareholders could more effectively track the board’s performance.

His resolution is up for a vote at Massey’s annual meeting this spring.

Blankenship issued a brief statement on the successful completion Tuesday of the recovery effort.

“Coal miners are an extended family, and the dedication of our miners and miners from competitor companies who put their own lives at risk in the search and recovery effort is commendable,” he said.

Blankenship pledged Massey would work with federal and state inspectors to learn the cause of the explosion.

Up for a vote in the House today is a resolution co-sponsored by Reps. Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan, both D-W.Va., and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., honoring the 29 fallen miners.

Rahall said the resolution not only would pay tribute to the victimized miners but recognize “the heroic actions of the rescue teams who selflessly sacrificed life and limb to search for the missing.”

Teams had to enter the mine four times after being repulsed earlier by dangerous gas levels, smoke and fire.

Bishop Fred Simms of Heart of God Ministries in Beckley was to deliver the opening prayer in the House.

In Parkersburg, the Wood County Commission passed a resolution joining those in mourning for the 29 miners.

“During difficult times,” the resolution read, “West Virginians come together as the larger ‘West Virginia family’ to offer comfort and support.”

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