Upper Big Branch explosion News

U.S. Mining Deaths Drop to New Low in 2016

A reported 25 miners died in work-related accidents at U.S. mines in 2016 – down from 29 in 2015 – according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. The figure represents the …

Coal Industry Concerned CEOs at Risk of Liability for Violations

Coal industry groups from three states are arguing that the conviction of former coal executive Don Blankenship could unfairly expose other industry leaders to criminal conspiracy charges. The Illinois, Ohio and West Virginia Coal Associations shared their concerns in a …

Jail Appears Certain for Ex-Massey Energy CEO Bound as Appeal Denied

Former Massey Energy CEO Donald Blankenship is headed to prison even as he appeals his conviction for conspiring to flout mine-safety laws in connection with the worst U.S. coal industry disaster in almost 40 years. The federal appeals court in …

Massey Adviser Says He Warned of Danger Months Before Upper Big Branch Blast

Former Massey Energy Co. Chief Executive Officer Donald Blankenship was warned about pervasive safety problems at his company’s mining operations 10 months before a fatal explosion killed 29 men, a retired government mine inspector told a West Virginia jury. Bill …

Massey Warning System Kept Miners a Step Ahead of Inspectors

Massey Energy executives used an advanced warning system at the company’s Upper Big Branch mine to alert workers as soon as federal inspectors arrived on site, a former miner testified Thursday at the criminal trial for ex-chief executive Donald Blankenship. …

Deadly Mine Explosion Trial Spotlights Massey’s King Coal

Before death came to Upper Big Branch Mine, Donald L. Blankenship managed his patch of Appalachia like King Coal incarnate. Outside homes in rural West Virginia flew the banner of his company, Massey Energy Co.: a flame leaping out of …

Former Massey CEO Feared 100 Deaths a Year Before Blast

Former Massey Energy Co. Chief Executive Officer Donald Blankenship, facing criminal trial over an April 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners, said the year before that he feared a disaster with 100 deaths. “I don’t want to go to 100 …

Stover Demands New Trial in West Virginia Mine Blast Case

A former security chief convicted of lying to investigators about the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men at the Upper Big Branch mine says he deserves a new trial. Hughie Elbert Stover filed his appeal Monday with the U.S. 4th …