The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said that it has put eight US mines, including four in West Virginia, on notice that they have a potential pattern of violations and will face more scrutiny.

The troubled mines in West Virginia are
Marfork Coal Co's Parker Peerless in Raleigh County
Pay Car Mining Inc's No 58 Mine in McDowell County
Pine Ridge Coal Co.'s Big Mountain No 16 in Boone County
Rio Group Inc.'s Coalburg No 2 Mine in Logan County

The list also includes
Nine Mile Mining's No 3 Mine in Wise County Va
Manalapan Mining Co's RB No. 12 in Harlan County Ky
Big Ridge Inc.'s Willow Lake Portal in Saline County Ill
Queenstake Resources' Jerritt Canyon Mill in Elko Nev.

Mr Joe Main MSHA chief said the agency briefed operators in April about a new online tool they can use to monitor their compliance and injury records under MSHA's initial screening criteria and adjust accordingly.

He said that "Unfortunately, some operators either did not use this tool or did not respond with effective improvements.”

It's the second round of screening since MSHA established the current criteria and procedures in September 2010.

The mines can now develop corrective action plans to meet targets set by MSHA. Those that fail to do so could be subject to closure orders for all significant and severe violations.

(Sourced from AP)