Massey Energy Co. is planning to seal the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 miners died in an explosion.
A Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman said Friday that the company has submitted a plan for sealing the mine. Amy Louviere says agency representatives plan to meet with Massey May 5.
The southern West Virginia mine is the scene of the nation's deadliest coal mine explosion since 1970. The April 5, 2010 blast remains the subject of civil and criminal investigations.
Massey, meanwhile, is nearing completion of a $7.1 billion takeover by Abingdon, Virginia-based rival Alpha Natural Resources.
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