Editorial: Mismanagement and Death in a Coal Mine

For the sake of coal miners' lives and livelihood, it is heartening that the federal investigation into the West Virginia disaster that killed 29 men in 2010 continues forward. It gained momentum this week when a former executive with Massey Energy, which ran the Upper Big Branch mine at the time of the deadly explosion, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

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In pleading guilty to defrauding the government, David Hughart agreed to disclose details of what he said was a decade-long conspiracy — going up the company hierarchy — to cover up widespread violations of federal mining laws, putting miners at grave risk. The disaster, the worst loss of miners' lives in 40 years, was traced to an explosive combination of coal dust and methane gas that investigators found the company allowed to build to lethal amounts.

Prosecutors allege that Massey managers routinely obtained tipoffs of pending visits by safety regulators and overlooked blatant hazards in pursuit of profits. Mr. Hughart was not working at Upper Big Branch at the time of the disaster, but his knowledge of Massey operations includes more than 20 years in management at various company mines repeatedly cited for violations.

Prosecutors vow to press the investigation "wherever it leads," including assessing the responsibility of other Massey executives and board members. In an earlier plea bargain hearing, Mr. Hughart implicated Don Blankenship, the former Massey chief executive, in what inspectors found to be repeated cover-ups of safety violations. Mr. Blankenship, now retired, has denied any role in the alleged conspiracy. R. Booth Goodwin II, the United States attorney on the case is on the right course in using conspiracy law to move up the chain of culpability.

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