PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A mining company and a certified coal dust sampler have been indicted on charges of falsifying coal dust data.
Black Diamond Coal and Walter Perkins were charged in the indictment handed down Wednesday by a federal grand jury.
The company is charged with a felony count of submitting a false record, while Perkins faces two felony counts of making false statements. Both also face a misdemeanor charge of violating health and safety standards.
According to the indictment, Perkins and the company intentionally ran a dust monitor above ground in clean air, instead of in the mine as required, at a mine located in Floyd County. The company is also accused of submitting records based on the clean air data, while Perkins is accused of lying to regulators about his monitor malfunctioning.
If convicted, the company faces probation and up to $450,000 in fines, while Perkins faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
Both have been ordered to appear in U.S. District Court in Pikeville Sept. 8.
