A COMPANY AND ITS EMPLOYEE HAVE ADMITTED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN BIG STONE GAP, TO VIOLATING THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT. ROBERT CLEAR COAL CORPORATION PLED GUILTY TO WILLFULLY VIOLATING A MANDATORY HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARD IN REGARD TO ACTIVITIES AT THE BIG BRANCH #1 MINE IN WISE COUNTY. 50 YEAR OLD WILBUR THOMAS DAVIS PLED GUILTY TO FALSIFYING THE MINE RECORD BOOK. PROSECUTORS SAID THE VIOLATION IN THIS CASE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. PROSECUTORS SAID DAVIS MADE A FALSE RECORDING IN THE MINE RECORD BOOK CERTIFYING HE HAD PERFORMED A PRE-SHIFT EXAMINATION OF THE MINE, WHEN IN FACT HE HAD NOT. SENTENCING IS SET FOR THE TWO IN FEDERAL COURT ON JANUARY 22ND. DAVIS FACES UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND ROBERT CLEAR COAL CORPORATION FACES PROBATION FOR FIVE YEARS AND FINES OF 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS.