[Hoot Gibson]

Once again I find it hard to believe that all mining operations follow the proper guidelines that are presented by law. I make this claim from talking with several in the mining industry who have stated their paricular mines do no. Once again I'm no speaking out against either the oil or coal industry. While your mine may have only been issues small violations repeatedly and it was because of people stealing equipment I do not oppose that. However, I have heard from higher ups in the industry who have stated before pay offs to inspectors have occured, that I do oppose because I have a respect for the industry and the challenging work enviorments miners under go. Once again it's a general statement and not speaking of all mines. I appreciate your in put and you are correct I do not know all there is to know. But the media is not my only source.

Just so you know IF I was to be caught on and DUI or speeding in an school zone I would not fight the fine. I'm the type of person to man up to my wrong doings and pay my fine as I have before for speeding.

You missed my point entirely. If you were falsely accused of driving drunk 50 mph in a school zone but you were, in fact, sober and driving only 35, I doubt that you would plead guilty to a DUI and to driving faster than you were. You would admit to speeding and defend against the false charges.

I spent more than 20 years in the coal industry myself and I know that the media does not know what it is talking about when it comes to the coal industry and most reporters like it that way. I also know that there are some bad actors in the mining industry that intentionally endanger the lives of miners everyday, in a misguided attempt to shave costs. I also know that Massey is not one of those companies. That does not mean that some knucklehead mine manager might not have failed to follow the company's safety policies and the law.

Nor does it mean that some nicotine addict did not smuggle a few smokes into the mine between two slices of bread and light up in some secluded place in the return airway where methane tends to accumulate. That kind of thing happens despite the best efforts of mine management.

As for corruption among mine inspectors, do not assume that mining companies always initiate bribes - they do not. An inspector is just as likely to drop a few hints about what he is hoping to get for Christmas and leave his vehicle unlocked. I have had mining company officials with decades of experience tell me that they have never known an honest MSHA official. I have a very hard time believing that, just as I do not believe most of the smears against Massey and other large companies. The real abuses generally are committed by small operators operating mines on a shoestring and struggling to stay in business.