To get a sense of how the so-called "regulation" of mine safety works, let's take a peek at the Board of Directors of Massey Energy.
As you look at this list, remember that this is the group that hired and pays Don Blankenship. You know, that Don Blankenship who runs that mine in which 25 miners gave their lives yesterday for Massey's irresponsible business practices.
Let's see how the "revolving door" between government and industry leads to these human and environmental tragedies.....
MASSEY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
* Don Blankenship, chairman and CEO, Massey Energy
* James B. Crawford, former chairman and CEO, James River Coal Company
* General Robert H. Foglesong, retired four-star general, U.S. Air Force
* Richard M. Gabrys, former vice chairman, Deloitte & Touche LLP
* Admiral Bobby Inman, nominated for the National Security Agency
* Barbara, Lady Judge, chairman, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
* Dan R. Moore, chairman, Moore Group, Inc.
* Baxter F. Phillips Jr., president, Massey Energy
* Stanley C. Suboleski, former commissioner, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Ah yes, a former Bush-appointed US Mine Safety Commissioner is on the Board of a repeat violator of safety regulations that are under constant appeal.
Let's see, is there a distinction in Mr. Suboleski's career between the Mine Safety Commission and Massey Coal?
Doesn't appear to be.
Could this part of the reason that Massey has record violation numbers?
I hope some good reporters are looking deep into this.
My, oh, my - Mr. Suboleski had a 20 year career at Massey before Bush-Cheney appointed him to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in 2003. And now Suboleski went directly from the Mine Safety Commission to the Massey Board of Directors?
Who exactly is looking out for miner's safety first here?
I don't think this guy is.
STANLEY C. SUBOLESKI, Commissioner
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
601 New Jersey Ave. NW, Suite 9500
Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 434-9921
EDUCATION
Penn State, Mining Engineering (Ph.D) 1978
Virginia Tech, Mining Engineering (M.S.) 1968
Penn State, Mining Engineering (B.S.) 1963
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
June 2003
to present Commissioner
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
2001-2003 Massey Energy Company
Executive Vice President and Interim Chief Operating Officer
2000-2001 Consulting Mining Engineer
1998-2000 Virginia Tech
Professor and Head, Department of Mining Engineering
1993-1997 A.T. Massey Coal Co. (now Massey Energy)
President, United Coal Co. subsidiary
Vice President Operations Strategy
Vice President Norfolk Southern Operations
1988-1993 Penn State University
Chairman, Mining Engineering Section
Centennial Professor of Mining Engineering
1981-1988 A.T. Massey Coal Company
Vice President Mining Development
Treasurer