According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 57-year-old Alger Jent of the CSA Mining No. 2 operation in Pike and Letcher County is being charged because he did not follow the mine’s approved roof control plan in a June 2008 mine inspection.

While it was not noted whether the conditions were found during a regular mine inspection or a post-accident review, US Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors found a myriad of issues.

Violations included the use of roof bolts shorter than the required 5-foot length; roof bolts that were not fully grouted resin as required; and bolts installed on a larger pattern than the required 4ft centers.

Additionally, the agency found that the mine’s installed roof bolts had a set-up torque less than the 150 foot pounds outlined by MSHA.

A motion hearing has been set in Jent’s case for March 5, with a jury trial tentatively set for April 6. If convicted, the operator faces as much as a year in prison, a fine of up to $US250,000, or both.