KENTUCKY — “Is the notorious West Virginia coal boss Don Blankenship back in business?
There are new indications that Blankenship may be attempting a return to the industry that helped him build a massive personal fortune, but also tarnished his image as the man at the helm during the deadliest American mining disaster in decades. Twenty-nine men were killed in the April 2010 explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine. On Tuesday, the company that bought Massey agreed to pay a record $210 million fine to resolve the government’s case against the firm. But what has become of Blankenship?
Kentucky state incorporation records show that scarcely a month after Blankenship agreed to step down as CEO of Massey Energy, he signed papers identifying him as the president of a newly-named company, McCoy Coal Group Inc. McCoy is the family name of Blankenship’s mother.
The status of McCoy Coal and Blankenship’s role with the firm remain unclear — calls to the company’s lawyer and to Blankenship’s attorney have not been returned.”
—David Kerley, Matthew Mosk, Matt Hosford, ABC News
• Corporate filing with Kentucky Secretary of State
