Upper Big Branch Mine South

{{#badges:CoalSwarm}} Upper Big Branch Mine-South is an underground coal mining operation in Raleigh County, West Virginia, operated by Performance Coal Company and owned by Massey Energy.

On April 5, 2010, an explosion at the mine killed 25 miners, with four unaccounted for. Mine-safety experts said explosions are typically caused by high levels of methane produced during longwall mining, which mining companies try to dilute with ventilation systems, although Massey has been repeatedly cited for violating this requirement. The Upper Big Branch mine has had six violations related to ventilation since January and four since March 17, according to Mine Safety and Health Administration data. In 2009, the mine had 50 "unwarrantable failure citations," the most serious findings of negligence a mine inspector can issue. One citation was for not properly marking escape routes for miners in case of an accident. MSHA had proposed penalties of $900,000 last year resulting from 458 total safety violations at the mine. There have been three other fatalities at the Upper Big Branch mine in the last 12 years.

Mine Data

• MSHA ID: 4608436
• Operator: Performance Coal Company
• Controller: Massey Energy
• Union:
• County: Raleigh
• State: WV
• Latitude: 37.92
• Longitude: -81.55
• 2007 Production (short tons): 576,672
• Coal Type: Bituminous
• Mining Method: Underground
• Mine Status: Active
• Average No. of Employees: 160

Articles and resources

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• Headquarters of U.S. coal mining companies
• Global list of coal mining companies and agencies
• Proposed coal mines
• Existing U.S. Coal Plants
• Coal

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External links

• "Major U.S. Coal Mines," Energy Information Administration