CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The state agency charged with enforcing coal mine safety laws will move to ban a miner accused of falsifying safety records from ever working in a West Virginia coal mine, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Miners’ Health, Safety and Training spokeswoman Jama Jarrett said the agency will take action against John Renner once an investigation against him is complete. Renner received his underground mining certificate 2004 and his assistant foreman certificate in 2008.

Renner is charged in a federal document with falsifying safety inspection reports at Patriot Coal’s Federal No. 2 mine.

The document says the alleged charge stems from his Jan. 24 inspection of the mine’s No. 27 block seal.

Lawyers representing Renner did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Wednesday.

The state launched an investigation after receiving a complaint on Jan. 24.

The state investigation was halted after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration got involved. Falsifying safety reports is a federal crime.

Jarrett said during an interview with state inspectors, Renner told them that he had not completed part of his examination that included methane gas levels behind sealed portions of the mine.

There are more than 90 seals in the north-central West Virginia mine, she said.

Federal mining rules require action if methane gas levels in sealed areas reach explosive ranges. MSHA adopted the rule after 12 men died after methane exploded in a sealed area of the Sago Mine on Jan. 2, 2006.

The Federal No. 2 mine was idled Feb. 18 due to dangerous atmospheric conditions in a sealed area.

The company said it is working with MSHA on a revised ventilation plan.

Jarrett said the Renner investigation triggered the review of the mine’s sealed areas.

The federal agency routinely warns coal companies that changes underground caused by winter weather can increase methane levels and make working conditions unsafe.

Companies are to ensure mines are properly ventilated.