The operator of a West Virginia mine where an explosion killed 25 people failed to clear away combustible materials and put its employees at risk by forcing them to work in as much as four feet of water, according to dozens of alleged safety violations made public Thursday by federal regulators. The details emerged as President Barack Obama announced that he would meet next week with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Mine Safety Administrator Joe Main to get their early assessment of the cause of the explosion Monday at Massey Energy Co.'s Upper Big Branch mine, its safety record, and steps needed by the federal government to improve safety enforcement. Searching for Missing Miners View Slideshow Mike Munden/Reuters Miner Brian Lemon waited around near the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W. Va., Thursday. A small crowd of miners showed uo to show support for their fallen colleagues. A spokesman for Massey Energy didn't respond to a call seeking comment about the new details of the alleged safety violations, some of which occurred as recently as a month before the April 5 explosion.[Read more...]