For first time, they say, feds shut down production at a coal mine because it hasn't paid civil penalties

We reported here last week that Double A Mining was one of 15 mines that were under threat of being shut by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration because of repeated safety violations and unpaid fines resulting from those violations. Apparently the threat was a real one. MSHA "announced Monday that it had issued a withdrawal order to Double A Mining Inc," reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "That means the operator can't mine coal until it pays its delinquent fines."

According to an MSHA release it is the first time the agency has stopped production at a mine for unpaid safety and health violations. Double A Mining has racked up $313,820 in fines for 360 safety violations at its No. 4 mine. According to MSHA the owner had not made a penalty payment since August 2004. (Read more)