The Times West Virginian

Local News

February 23, 2010

Federal No. 2 mine closed

Idled last week due to health, safety reasons

By Jessica Borders

FAIRMONT — Patriot Coal Corp.’s Federal No. 2 Mine in Fairview was idled late last week for health and safety reasons.

“The concern is dealing with the sealed-off area of the mine,” said Mike Caputo, District 31 international vice president of the United Mine Workers of America. “The atmospheric condition there has raised some concerns, and the health and safety of the miners has to be first and foremost.”

Caputo, who also serves as majority whip for the West Virginia House of Delegates, explained that larger mines often seal off portions of a site that were previously mined. Sometimes the conditions of these old areas that were mined long ago become very hazardous, so the company elects to seal off and monitor them.

Since the closing last week, the only people entering the Federal No. 2 Mine have been those required to make sure the mine is safe and to continue pumping water, he said. Approximately 450 UMWA-represented miners are employed at the mine, or a total of 550 counting salary and union personnel.



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