LEE COUNTY MINE GETS FINE FOR '91 DEATHS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993                   TAG: 9302070215
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
LEE COUNTY MINE GETS FINE FOR '91 DEATHS
While federal and state investigators are continuing to look for the cause of a Wise County coal mine explosion that killed eight miners Dec. 7, a federal judge in Roanoke has fined a Lee County mine $295,648 for the death of four miners in 1991.
U.S. Attorney Montgomery Tucker said the government sought the civil fine as a result of safety violations at J&T Coal Mine that caused the fatal cave-in in February 1991.
U.S. District Judge Samuel Wilson ordered J&T to pay the fine as a result of numerous violations of U.S. mine safety and health laws. Authorities said that many of the violations led directly to the collapse of the roof that killed the four miners.
"We are delighted that the court has entered judgement" against the mine and "we'll make every effort to make sure the company pays the fine," said assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lloret.
The mine and its superintendent still face criminal charges in connection with the cave-in.
Keywords:
FATALITY

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB