West Virginia ? The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has levied a $1.5 million fine against Massey Energy Co. for 25 violations that contributed to the deaths of two West Virginia coal miners in January 2006.

The fine is the largest the agency has ever imposed for a coal mining accident, surpassing the mark of $540,000 for a January 1991 methane gas explosion that killed two miners at another West Virginia mine.

Miners Don I. Bragg and Ellery Elvis Hatfield died in the Jan. 19, 2006, fire after getting lost in thick, choking smoke inside the mine in Logan County.