PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A coal mining company and one of its employees have signaled that they now plan to plead guilty to charges related to a scheme to falsify coal dust data.

Black Diamond Coal and Walter Perkins, a certified coal dust sampler working for the company, have filed motions seeking to change their pleas.

Both are charged with violating a health and safety standard. The company is also charged with submitting a false, record, while Perkins is also charged with two counts of making false statements.

They are accused of falsifying coal dust samples at a Floyd County coal mine by running monitors above ground in the clean air, instead of in the mines as required.

Black Diamond has indicated that it plans to change its pleas to both charges it faces. The motion for Perkins does not specify the proposed terms of his plea.

Rearraignment hearings will be set at a later time.