Mines carry backlog of $90M in violations...eroding the government's ability to enforce safety regs

[JohnWxy]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-08-mine-fine_N.htm

WASHINGTON — Coal mine operators have paid just 7% of the fines they have received for major health and safety violations in the past three years, a USA TODAY analysis of federal records shows.

The low payment rate is eroding the government's ability to pressure mining companies to improve safety, particularly at coal mines with repeated serious violations, officials and advocates say.

Unpaid fines mean coal companies "may keep on doing (unsafe) things because it hasn't really hit their pocketbook," said Tony Oppegard, a former mine-safety prosecutor in Kentucky.

The Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, where 25 miners died Monday(Now 29_JW), has paid just one major fine since 2007, which cost $10,750. It has appealed or is delinquent on 21 major fines worth $505,000, records show.
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... note to John Roberts, if companies have the rights of people, do they bear the same responsibilities??? HUHHHH???


Question: How much has Massey Energy spent on legal expenses contesting safety violations and how does that compare to what it would have cost to install adequate ventilation equipment at the Upper Big Branch mine?