Massey Energy Responds to Department of Labor Action

JULIAN, W.Va., Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Massey Energy Company (NYSE: MEE) confirmed today that the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Kentucky seeking to close the Company's Freedom Energy Mine No. 1 until alleged safety hazards can be corrected.

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The Freedom Energy Mine is an older mine with extensive underground workings.  The operation has struggled to comply with newer MSHA standards.  The Company has recently focused additional scrutiny on the operation, including a personal visit by Chairman and CEO Don Blankenship as part of Massey's company-wide safety stand down conducted on October 29, 2010.  During the safety stand down, all underground Massey operations, including Freedom Energy, idled production, gave their miners additional safety training, and took steps to identify and correct mine hazards.

Massey does not believe the mine is unsafe.  However, due to the mine's age and size, the Company is considering idling the mine until it can ensure that the mine will meet current MSHA standards.   During its October 27, 2010 earnings call, the Company discussed the possibility that some of its older mines with more extensive workings could be idled.  Should the Company decide to idle the mine, every effort will be made to reassign the miners to nearby locations.  Freedom Energy currently mines approximately 500,000 tons of steam coal annually.

Company Description

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Va., with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements in this statement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. Any forward-looking statements are also subject to a number of assumptions regarding, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions. These assumptions are based on facts and conditions as they exist at the time such statements are made as well as predictions as to future facts and conditions, the accurate prediction of which may be difficult and involve the assessment of circumstances or events beyond our control. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements unless required by securities law, and we caution the reader to not rely on them unduly. Additional information can be found in press releases and Massey's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Massey's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which was filed on March 1, 2010, and subsequently filed interim reports.

SOURCE Massey Energy Company

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