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News Release

MSHA launches inspection blitz in nations coalfields

Federal inspectors focus on mines with history of ventilation, methane violations

ARLINGTON, Va.The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the agency launched an inspection blitz over the past weekend at 57 coal mines whose history of underground conditions indicated a significant number of violations and/or conditions that may include problems relating to methane accumulations, ventilation practices, rock dust applications and inadequate mine examinations.

These impact inspections came on the heels of a directive issued by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main immediately following the April 5 explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W.Va. Under that directive, Main instructed all district managers overseeing the nation's coal mines to focus increased attention on mine ventilation, rock dusting, methane monitoring and mine examinations during all ongoing regular inspections.

"The purpose of these inspections is to provide assurance that no imminent dangers, explosions, hazards or other serious health or safety conditions and practices are present at these mines," said Main. "Just last week, we pledged to the president that we will do whatever it takes to make sure another tragedy like the one that claimed 29 miners' lives at Upper Big Branch never happens again."

Depending upon mine size, as many as 10 inspectors were sent to each mine operation. They examined mechanized mining units at the selected mines, as well as the mines' bleeder systems, belt entries and seals.

The 57 mines were selected based on their history of significant and/or repeat violations and focused on safety standards concerning methane, mine ventilation and rock dusting – the types of violations that can lead to mine accidents.

Mines in 10 states were the target of the inspection blitz: West Virginia (23 mines), Kentucky (14), Alabama (4), Illinois (3), Utah (3), Indiana (3), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (2), Tennessee (2) and Colorado (1). More than 275 coal mine enforcement personnel participated in the blitz.

A list of the 57 mines follows this news release. The results of these inspections will be made public as they become available.

Coal Mines Being Inspected

District

ID

Mine Name

Operator Name

Controller Name

DISTRICT 07

1509636

#77

Blue Diamond Coal Co.

James River Coal Co.

DISTRICT 08

1202010

Air Quality #1 Mine

Peabody Midwest Mining LLC

Peabody Energy

DISTRICT 04

4605437

American Eagle Mine

Speed Mining LLC

Patriot Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 04

4609180

Apache Mine

The New West Virginia Mining Co. Inc.

Brandy M Horvath

DISTRICT 04

4608801

Aracoma Alma Mine #1

Aracoma Coal Co. Inc.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 09

4202335

Bear Canyon #4

C W Mining Co.

Kenneth A Rushton

DISTRICT 04

4607908

Big Mountain No. 16

Pine Ridge Coal Co. LLC

Patriot Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 03

4601968

Blacksville No. 2

Consolidation Coal Co.

CONSOL Energy Inc

DISTRICT 03

4609136

Broad Run Mine

Big River Mining LLC

Coalfield Transport Inc

DISTRICT 04

4609086

Brody Mine No. 1

Brody Mining LLC

Brody Trust

DISTRICT 05

4404856

Buchanan Mine #1

Consolidation Coal Co.

CONSOL Energy Inc

DISTRICT 07

1518924

Butcher Branch

Red Bird Coal Co.

Donnie Wagers; Onzie Sizemore

DISTRICT 04

4607009

Castle Mine

Elk Run Coal Co. Inc.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 04

4608570

Coalburg No. 2 Mine

Rio Group Inc.

Richard H Abraham

DISTRICT 08

1102632

Crown III Mine

Tri County Coal LLC

Gary J Ronald; Archibald C Parker

DISTRICT 02

3605018

Cumberland Mine

Cumberland Coal Resources LP

Alpha Natural Resources LLC

DISTRICT 07

1518182

D & C Mining Corp,

D & C Mining Corp.

Horace Garrison Hill

DISTRICT 04

4608759

Eagle Mine

Newtown Energy Inc.

Robert E Ellis

DISTRICT 02

3605466

Emerald Mine No. 1

Emerald Coal Resources LP

Alpha Natural Resources LLC

DISTRICT 03

4601456

Federal No. 2

Eastern Associated Coal LLC

Patriot Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 07

1518991

Flint Ridge Mine #2

ICG Hazard,LLC

International Coal Group Inc (ICG)

DISTRICT 09

0503836

Foidel Creek Mine

Twentymile Coal Co.

Peabody Energy

DISTRICT 08

1102752

Galatia Mine

American Coal Co.

Robert E Murray

DISTRICT 08

1202215

Gibson Mine

Gibson County Coal LLC

Alliance Resource Partners LP

DISTRICT 04

4601271

Harris No. 1

Eastern Associated Coal LLC

Patriot Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 10

1502709

Highland 9 Mine

Highland Mining Co. LLC

Patriot Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 09

4202074

Horizon Mine

Hidden Splendor Resources Inc.

Alexander H Walker III

DISTRICT 04

4607273

Justice #1

Independence Coal Co. Inc.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 07

1519080

Liggett #5

Liggett Mining LLC

James C Justice II

DISTRICT 03

4601433

Loveridge No. 22

Consolidation Coal Co.

CONSOL Energy Inc.

DISTRICT 03

4601437

McElroy Mine

McElroy Coal Co.

CONSOL Energy Inc.

DISTRICT 07

1518264

Mine #1

Cawood Enterprises LLC

Jimmy D Robbins

DISTRICT 06

1507082

Mine #1

Freedom Energy Mining Co.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 06

1517651

Mine #1

Rockhouse Energy Mining Co.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 06

1518911

Mine #28

CAM Mining LLC

Wexford Capital LLC

DISTRICT 07

1518861

Mine No. 1

Conshor Mining LLC

James H Hurley

DISTRICT 06

1508079

Mine No. 3

Excel Mining LLC

Alliance Resource Partners LP

DISTRICT 07

4003272

Mine No. 14

National Coal Corp.

National Coal Corp.

DISTRICT 04

4608812

No. 21

Marshall Mining Inc.

Carl Kirk

DISTRICT 04

4609020

No. 65

Double Bonus Coal Co.

Mechel Oao

DISTRICT 11

0101401

No. 7 Mine

Jim Walter Resources Inc.

Walter Energy Inc.

DISTRICT 11

0100759

North River #1 Underground Mine

Chevron Mining Inc.

Chevron Corp.

DISTRICT 11

0100851

Oak Grove Mine

Oak Grove Resources LLC

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

DISTRICT 04

4601816

Pinnacle Mine

Pinnacle Mining Co. LLC

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

DISTRICT 04

4609217

Powellton #1 Mine

INR-WV Operating LLC

INR-I Holdings LLC

DISTRICT 08

1202249

Prosperity Mine

Five Star Mining Inc.

Donald Blankenberger

DISTRICT 07

1518771

RB #12

Manalapan Mining Co. Inc.

Ben Bennett

DISTRICT 04

4601544

Road Fork #51 Mine

Spartan Mining Co. Inc.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 03

4601318

Robinson Run No. 95

Consolidation Coal Co.

CONSOL Energy Inc

DISTRICT 04

4608808

Ruby Energy

Spartan Mining Co. Inc.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 11

0102901

Shoal Creek Mine

Drummond Company Inc.

Drummond Co. Inc

DISTRICT 07

1512564

Straight Creek #1 Mine

Left Fork Mining Co. Inc.

Ben Bennett

DISTRICT 05

4406804

Tiller No. 1

Knox Creek Coal Corp.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 07

4003333

Tri-State One

Wilcoal Mining, Inc.

Wilma Wagner

DISTRICT 04

4608436

Upper Big Branch Mine-South **

Performance Coal Co.

Massey Energy Co.

DISTRICT 09

4202233

West Ridge Mine

West Ridge Resources Inc.

Robert E Murray

DISTRICT 08

1103054

Willow Lake Portal

Big Ridge Inc

Peabody Energy

DISTRICT 04

4608949

Winifrede 12 Mine

Laurel Coal Corp.

Clarence R Peters; Richard N Nester

** UBB not inspected due to April 5, 2010, explosion

Agency
Mine Safety & Health Administration
Date
April 21, 2010
Release Number
10-0520-NAT
Media Contact: Amy Louviere
Phone Number