Coal Tattoo

As cross-examination of Chris Blanchard continued this morning in the Don Blankenship trial, defense attorney Bill Taylor tried to minimize the importance of certain federal mine safety citations.

Taylor questioned the former Performance Coal Company president about a series of citations the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration issued at the Upper Big Branch Mine.

One was for a miner not having an ID tag attached to his belt. Another was for the mine’s bathhouse needing to be cleaned. Another was for having a propane grill in the mine parking lot.

Taylor asked Blanchard, “Is it fair to say that some citations are much more serious than others?” Blanchard responded, “Yes.”

Taylor also used this line of questions to make the defense argument that citations are “inevitable” in the coal industry.

He asked Blanchard if anyone in the country can avoid MSHA citations. Blanchard agreed it was impossible, and added, “Too many of the citations are too subjective.”

Blanchard, a key government witness against former Massey Energy CEO Blankenship, was questioned by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby part of last Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. Taylor began his cross-examination on Friday afternoon, continued his questions all day Monday and still had Blanchard on the stand at mid-morning today.