CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Massey Energy Co.'s internal investigation blames the nation's deadliest coal mine disaster in decades on an uncontrollable inundation of gas that overwhelmed all safety measures, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Massey's version of the April 5, 2010, Upper Big Branch mine explosion sharply contradicts findings by an independent investigation commissioned by West Virginia's former governor. It also differs from the preliminary findings by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. Both blame a small gas ignition that touched off a massive coal dust blast that killed 29 miners.
MSHA and the U.S. Department of Justice are continuing civil and criminal investigations.
Massey called MSHA's investigation "deeply flawed."
Neither that charge nor the findings reported by the newspaper are new. Massey has long blamed a natural gas inundation from a floor crack, a position that could render the company blameless.
Massey relied on mine records and consultants to interpret evidence. The result portrays the mine as operating normally until disaster struck.
The leader of the West Virginia-commissioned report, J. Davitt McAteer, disputed the notion that evidence doesn't support coal dust as a factor.
"The evidence that I saw in person suggested to me that the force was sufficient to reflect a coal-dust explosion," he said.
Massey was acquired Wednesday by Alpha Natural Resources. Former Chairman Bobby Inman's cover letter said the report was released after the sale at Alpha's request.
