Patriot Coal Provides Statement On MSHA Pattern Of Violations Finding

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Mine, Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today notified Patriot Coal Corporation PCXCQ that a Pattern of Violations (POV) exists at the Brody No. 1 mine, located in Boone County, West Virginia. 

Patriot acquired Brody Mining, LLC (Brody) effective December 31, 2012.  Prior to that time, Brody was owned and operated by an independent company.  Many of the violations and the severity measure cited in the POV finding took place under the prior owner.  Immediately following Patriot's purchase of Brody, on January 3, 2013, the Company submitted a Compliance Improvement Plan to MSHA.  Since that time, the Brody mine compliance performance (as measured by violations per inspector day) has improved by 40 percent.  Additionally, all former officers and key mine-level managers at Brody were replaced shortly after the purchase was concluded.  More recently, on September 6, 2013, Patriot submitted a Corrective Action Plan to MSHA to further improve safety and compliance at the Brody mine.  Subsequently, on September 17, 2013, MSHA approved the submitted Corrective Action Plan.

During the period of time it has operated as a Patriot subsidiary, the Brody mine has made considerable and measurable progress toward improved safety and compliance. 

Patriot firmly believes that the Brody mine does not qualify for POV status, and the Company intends to vigorously contest the POV finding.

About Patriot Coal
Patriot Coal Corporation is a producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 11 active mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin.  Patriot ships to domestic and international electricity generators, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.8 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves.

SOURCE Patriot Coal Corporation