Latest Mining Headlines
All the headlines from our Mining Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Black Lung Disease Rising Again Among U.S. Miners
May 23 2011 // Black lung disease, long a killer of coal miners, is on the rise again after retreating in the 30 years since Congress passed tougher mine safety laws, health and safety experts said Friday. The renewed appearance of the...
Mine Owner Massey Blamed for Deadly West Virginia Blast
May 19 2011 // The worst U.S. coal mine accident in four decades, in which 29 miners died, was “man-made” and could have been avoided if the mine owner, Massey Energy Co , had followed basic safety measures, an independent...
Boys Drive Excavator at Pennsylvania Mine, Smash Bulldozer
Apr 27 2011 // Pennsylvania State police say two boys, ages 12 and 9, drove a large excavator at a southwestern Pennsylvania strip mine, smashing a bulldozer in the process. Police say the 12-year-old will be charged with felony criminal...
Feds, Shareholders at Odds Over West Virginia Mine Blast Documents
Mar 22 2011 // Federal prosecutors want to block Massey Energy Co. shareholders from reviewing documents gathered during civil and criminal investigations into last April’s deadly explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West...
Wrongful Death Suits Filed Against Massey Over West Virginia Mine Blast
Mar 8 2011 // The families of two coal miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine blast in West Virginia last year filed wrongful death lawsuits against the mine’s owner, Massey Energy Co, saying it was a “catastrophe...
Security Officer at Massey West Virginia Mine Charged in Probe
Mar 1 2011 // The head of security at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine was arrested Monday on charges he impeded investigators and lied to them as they probed an explosion at the West Virginia mine that killed 29...
Mine Operators Oppose New Safety Rules
Feb 21 2011 // Planned new U.S. mine safety rules will raise costs for mining companies that already spent close to $1 billion between them upgrading safety measures four years ago, the mine industry said. “It’s challenging...
Wild Weather Could Push Miners to Heed Insurers’ Warnings; Reassess Risks
Feb 8 2011 // A surge in weather-related disasters in Australia could push global mining firms to overhaul supply contracts and rethink how bad weather will affect their operations and customers worldwide. Climate scientists say a...
If you show me your opinion, I’ll show you mine
Jan 26 2011 // Come along for the ride as we take a look at how different generations value (or don’t value) other’s opinions on social media and what this means to the insurance industry. How would you respond to the...
Equipment, Coal Dust Caused West Virginia Mine Blast: Probe
Jan 20 2011 // Federal investigators said Wednesday a small fire caused by a methane or natural gas leak likely set off a massive blast of coal dust that killed 29 miners at Massey Energy’s coal mine in West Virginia last...
Pennsylvania Insurance Program for Homes Above Mines Active
Jan 13 2011 // As many as 1 million Pennsylvania homes sit above abandoned coal mines, yet a state-subsidized insurance program for mine subsidence has issued only 58,000 policies. Abandoned mines are in 43 of Pennsylvania’s 67...
Mine Safety Agency Wins Order Over Unsafe Massey Mine in Kentucky
Jan 6 2011 // Federal mine safety officials have won a settlement with Massey Energy that requires the firm to immediately take safety measures at one of its mines in Kentucky that federal officials say is very dangerous. The U.S....
Heavy Rains, Floods Disrupt Australia Coal Mining, Port, Freight Operations
Dec 29 2010 // Heavy rains and flooding in Australia’s key coal-producing Queensland state have impacted mining operations and brought parts of the coal infrastructure, including rail and ports, to a standstill, operators said on...
Inspections Reducing Mine Safety Violations: U.S. Official
Dec 28 2010 // Conducting special inspections to crack down on mines with poor safety records appears to be working, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said last week. The agency said it issued 250 citations and orders...
Gay Miner Suing Massey West Virgina Unit Charges Harassment
Dec 28 2010 // A gay coal miner is suing a Massey Energy Co. subsidiary, charging that management didn’t protect him from abusive co-workers. The lawsuit names Massey’s Spartan Mining Co. and a foreman at a Kanawha County...
State Says Massey CEO Won’t Testify in Mine Explosion Probe
Dec 14 2010 // Outgoing Massey Energy executive Don Blankenship is refusing to testify as planned next week about the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine, state mine safety officials said. Deputy Director Eugene White said the Office...
Massey Shuts Kentucky Mine; Cites Danger in West Virginia
Dec 3 2010 // Massey Energy Co. has shut down a Kentucky coal mine that federal regulators had cited for safety violations and said another of its mines in West Virginia was in danger of collapse following heavy rains. The mining...
Massey CEO to Testify About Deadly West Virginia Mine Blast
Dec 2 2010 // Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship is expected to testify Dec. 14 in the probe of an April explosion that killed 29 men in West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine. The state Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and...
Judge Upholds West Virginia Mine Accident Reporting Rule
Nov 29 2010 // A Kanawha County Circuit Court judge has upheld a state law giving coal mine operators 15 minutes to tell regulators about fires and other serious accidents. Judge Tod Kaufman’s ruling came in a case involving...
Safety Officials Warn 13 Mines in 7 States
Nov 22 2010 // Federal regulators late Friday warned 13 mining operations in seven states, including two owned by troubled Massey Energy Co., to show improvement on safety or face stricter enforcement. The Mine Safety and Health...
