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Local newspaper the Beckley Register-Herald reported late last week that Neil Hasen, 31, could receive up to five years in jail for five counts of making false statements on federal documentation.
Hasen was hired to perform the duties of an assistant mine foreman at Gatling Mining’s Big River Mining Broad Run operation in February 2009, after applying for a foreman position and indicating he had a foreman certification.
According to the paper, he worked in the position for 20 days from February 4 to February 24, during which time he performed pre-shift and on-shift inspection and signed reports stating he had examined the mine’s No. 1 Left section.
A review of the certification number, 36378, which Hasen used during his time on the job by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training found that the number had actually been issued in 1993 to Howard Shrum Jr.
Despite being asked to provide proof of certification on February 23, Hasen continued to work for two more days. He was subsequently asked to leave and return February 25 with the documentation, but reportedly did not return to the mine, the Register-Herald said.
State records of revoked, suspended or surrendered certifications reflect that Hasen’s certification was for assistance underground mine foreman duties as well as surface apprentice miner, underground apprentice miner, underground coal miner and belt examiner. All are listed as temporarily suspended.
An ILN request for comment and confirmation of a sentencing date from the WVOMHST was not returned before press time.
The Broad Run mine was targeted earlier this year by federal officials for increased scrutiny. It was listed by the US House Education and Labor Committee as one of 48 operations not identified to be sanctioned for a potential pattern of violations by the Mine Safety and Health Administration due to unresolved appeals.
In total, 22 West Virginian operations were on that list, including the Upper Big Branch mine. According to federal data, Broad Run received almost 1700 violations between June 2007 and April 2010 and has accumulated more than $US2.9 million in penalties.
