A West Virginia underground mine operator did not follow proper safety procedures prior to the death of a maintenance worker, according to a federal regulator. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a final report in the Nov. 1 death of Brian Wallen, an assistant maintenance shift supervisor at Mingo Logan Coal LLC’s Mountaineer II Mine in the Logan County community of Sharples. MSHA said the mine operator did not maintain the vehicle in a safe operating condition and failed to remove it from service. Wallen had 25 years of mining experience.