Two Kentucky coal miners die, bringing federal tally to 26

Two Kentucky coal miners die, bringing federal tally to 26

Washington (Platts)--24Apr2006

The deaths of two coal miners in separate accidents in eastern Kentucky late
last week raised the state's number of mine fatalities in 2006 to five,
equaling the total in both 2004 and 2005.

Nationally, 26 coal miners have been killed on the job in less than four
months this year.

The latest Kentucky miners to die were Rick McKnight, 45, of Cumberland,
killed early Friday morning at Lone Mountain Processing's Huff Creek No. 1
underground mine in Harlan County, and David Bolen, 28, of Harold, killed
Thursday afternoon at Tri Star Coal's No. 1 deep mine in Pike County.

Both accidents are being investigated by state and federal mine-safety
agencies.

Bolen, a shuttle car operator, "was running a shuttle car anchor when material
from a pillar fell on him," Mark York, spokesman for the Kentucky
Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, told Platts Friday. The 2:30 p.m.
Thursday accident occurred about 5.5 miles underground.

"He was taken from the mine and brought to the surface and was pronounced dead
at the surface," York said. Bolen had three years of mining experience and had
worked at Tri Star for two months. Tri Star has owned the mine since May 12,
2005, according to the state agency.

McKnight, a mechanic, was found pinned beneath mining machinery at about 4:30
a.m. Friday. He was taken to Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital where he was
pronounced dead, York said. McKnight had worked for 11 years at the mine.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration issued closure orders for both mines
and neither was operating Friday, MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere told Platts.

Tri Star Coal No. 1 is owned by Robert Stump and Eddie Delay. Although it is
listed as an active mine, the last production was 58,582 st in 1999, according
to MSHA records. However, the mine was cited 35 times by the federal agency in
2005 with proposed fines of $883 and 25 times this year with proposed fines of
$1,611.

The Lone Mountain mine is owned by St. Louis-based Arch Coal. The mine
produced 1,046,339 short tons in 2005, according to MSHA. It was issued 83
federal citations last year with proposed fines of $7,980 and 20 citations so
far this year with proposed fines of $1,419.

Company officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

-- Bob Matyi, bobmaty@adelphia.net

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