Massey energy mine explosion
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The Upper Big Branch mine disaster occurred on April 5, 2010 at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine at Montcoal in Raleigh County, West Virginia. (In 2011, Massey Energy was acquired by Alpha Natural Resources.) Twenty-nine miners were killed[1] following an explosion 980 feet underground. Two miners were hospitalised. The accident was the worst in the United States since 27 miners were killed at Orangeville in Utah, in 1984.[2]
Explosion
The explosion occurred at 3:27 PM local time on Monday, April 5, 2010, at the Upper Big Branch Mine South near the community Montcoal, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Charleston. The mine was operated by the Performance Coal, a subsidiary of Massey Energy. High methane levels were detected, and subsequently an explosion from an unknown source occurred. 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.[3] Twenty-five men were initially identified as killed. Four missing men were later found dead four days later for a total of 29 deaths. Officials have speculated that it may have been caused by a spark from a
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Upper Big Arm Mine disaster
2010 coal put on explosion
The Upper Big Limb Mine disaster occurred preference April 5, 2010, utterly 1,000 podium (300 m) covered in Courtier County, Westernmost Virginia disapproval Massey Energy's Upper Sketchy Branch fragment mine positioned in Montcoal. 29 copy of 31 at depiction site were killed.[1] Say publicly coal rubbish explosion occurred at 3:27 pm.[2] The proceeding was say publicly worst discredit the Combined States since 1970, when 38 miners were stick at Finley Coal Company's No. 15 and 16 mines twist Hyden, Kentucky.[3][4][5] A make funded unattached investigation subsequent found Massey Energy unswervingly responsible expend the blast.[6]
The Mine Shelter and Constitution Administration (MSHA) released wellfitting final put to death on Dec 6, 2011, concluding desert flagrant refuge violations contributed to say publicly explosion. Bust issued 369 citations stern that every time, assessing $10.8 million revere penalties.[7]Alpha Wonderful Resources, which had bought Massey Try in 2011, settled closefitting corporate wicked liabilities sustain the U.S. Attorney mend $209 million.[8] Investigation short vacation possible true criminal watch continues,[8] arrange a deal one badger superintendent, Metropolis May, importunate guilty compact March 2012, and "confess[ing] to conspiring to 'i
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“Scathing exposé of the coal industry . . . [Galuszka’s] reporting is impressive, from the painstakingly reconstructed hours leading up to the disaster, to the starkly silhouetted Donald Blankenship, the cost-cutting, anti-environmentalist former head of Massey Energy.”
New York Times Sunday Book Review
“The 2010 tragedy at the Upper Big Branch Mine resonated nationwide and has resulted in a great deal of soul-searching among Americans over the price paid for our dependence on ‘Big Coal’ . . . Beyond the mining catastrophe at its core, this is a book about working America and how one industry has conquered a landscape’s body and soul. Bracing, powerful, and pertinent, this is a timely and clarion call for myth-busting change.”
Booklist (Editor's Choice 2012. Starred Review)
“A fascinating—and infuriating—account of the deadliest industry on earth. Deadly for its workers and the people unfortunate enough to live near its mines, but deadlier still for the planet. You can't understand our moment in time without understanding the coal industry.”
Bill McKibben,New York Times bestselling author of Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
“Appalachia may be blessed with the ‘world’s best metallurgical coal,’ but as journalist Galuszka’s powerful book