MSHA warns 13 mining operations

MSHA warns 13 mining operations

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

Federal regulators late Friday warned 13 mining operations in seven states, including two owned by troubled Massey Energy Co., to show improvement on safety or face stricter enforcement.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says a 14th mining operation, Massey’s Upper Big Branch mine in southern West Virginia, also meets the criteria for inclusion on the list that might qualify as having a pattern of serious violations.

But the agency says actions against Upper Big Branch and a Massey subsidiary, Performance Coal Co., are on hold until the completion of an investigation into an April blast that killed 29 men.

Low Irish tax is target in loan talks

DUBLIN

As EU experts dug through the books of Ireland’s debt-crippled banks, the question moved from whether Ireland will take an international bailout to under what conditions.

On the firing line was Ireland’s prized low business tax, which the government says has lured 1,000 multinationals to Ireland over the past decade — but which it may have to give up to satisfy conditions of being rescued.

The Irish rescue is the latest act in Europe’s yearlong drama to prevent mounting debts and deficits from overwhelming the weakest members of the 16-nation eurozone. Greece was saved from bankruptcy in May, and analysts say Portugal could be next in line after Ireland for an EU-IMF lifeboat.

Regulators close banks in Fla., Pa.

WASHINGTON

Regulators have shut down small banks in Florida and Pennsylvania, lifting to 148 the number of U.S. banks that have failed this year.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday took over Gulf State Community Bank in Carrabelle, Fla., with $112.1 million in assets, and Allegiance Bank of North America in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., with $106.6 million in assets.

Associated Press