March 5, 2010 · A foreman accused of faking inspection reports at a West Virginia coal mine says his boss ordered him to ignore potentially dangerous methane levels and to avoid evacuations.
In an interview with state investigators, 40-year-old John Renner of Granville says the Patriot Coal Corp. supervisor put profit ahead of the potential danger.
He said was warned to evacuate the underground mine only if a federal inspector happened to be watching.
Renner has been charged with falsifying safety inspection reports at Patriot's Federal No. 2 mine near Fairview.
He is cooperating with federal prosecutors.
Before he was charged, Renner told state investigators about his panic attacks and fear of being fired for disobeying orders.
Patriot has declined to comment.
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