[TheRealVille]

Is it not true that if you are sited for a traffic violation you have the option to pay the fine or have a hearing before a judge to defend yourself?

The coal company has the same option, they can pay the fine or appeal the violation at which time the company is allowed to defend themselves and their actions.

Have you ever read any of these violations? Many Inspectors will write a violation as an S&S when it clearly is not. BTW, the cost of an S&S fine is about 3 times more than a non S&S, this is one of the reasons so many violation are contested.

May I suggest that the next time your in Pikeville stop by the MSHA office and pick up a copy of the most recent CFR. I'm sure you will find it a very interesting read.

The fines are anywhere from 2-20 years old. If you read both reports, they are linking the owners that don't pay their fines as being the most at risk to hurting workers with their safety practices. My, used to be coal operating, buddy has told me about one of the owners being one of the crookedest operators in the business, that cares none for his worker's safety, just his bottomline. I don't care if you take up for them, or not. It appears that these types of companies are the ones that are helping to put a finger on the coal industry. I also remember Hoot taking up for the cleanliness of coal these days, and just the other day I read about a water/soil sample company rigging the numbers on samples,diluting water, and getting water from other sources, so as to get more business from coal companies. It looks like coal might need to do a better job of policing itself, and coal people like you not taking up for the bad companies.