BECKLEY, W.Va. — Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship has again plead not guilty to federal charges connected to the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster in Raleigh County that claimed the lives of 29 coal miners.
On Tuesday, Blankenship made a brief appearance in Beckley U.S. District Court to be arraigned on three felony charges contained in a superseding indictment from earlier this month.
That superseding indictment combined two earlier charges and added a third one.
Blankenship is accused of falsifying coal dust samples, violating mine safety standards and defrauding financial regulators in operations at UBB.
He was first arraigned on the original charges against him last November.
As of now, Blankenship’s trial is scheduled to start on April 20.
If convicted of the three charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.