Governor's Coal Plant Fined After Fatal Accident

Monday, May 1, 2017 | 0

One of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family coal operations was fined $10,684 for six safety violations following the death of a worker in February.

Gov. Jim Justice

The state Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training fined Justice Low Seam Mining Inc. for violations discovered after the accident at the JC “Jim” Justice II Prep Plant in Bishop, an operation named for the governor, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

State inspectors released their accident report on Monday and reported the fine amounts the following day.

At the time of the incident, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration listed Jim Justice as the controller of the mine, according to the Gazette-Mail.

Jason Kenneth Matthews, 43, died on Feb. 27 after he fell from a ladder onto a conveyor belt, and then into a coal-waste bin as he was trying to repair machinery.