Howard Berkes : NPR

Judge Rejects Massey Evidence Role In Mine Probe

September 21, 2010 • Massey Energy wanted to have its own people involved in the investigation of the deadly April coal mine blast. But a federal administrative court judge said the rejection of the company's evidence gathering is "rationally connected to safely conducting the accident investigation."

National Guard Takes Blame For Utah Wildfire

September 20, 2010 • More than 1,600 homes have been evacuated in a Salt Lake City suburb as crews race to control a wind-stoked fire that has blazed across thousands of acres. Officials said the blaze was sparked by dry brush on a firing range at a National Guard site.

Excess Coal Dust Found In Massey Mine

September 17, 2010 • Evidence of the dust surfaced during an investigation into the West Virginia coal mine's explosion in April. Regulations require the removal or neutralization of built-up coal dust because of its explosive nature. Investigators say 79 percent of samples from the mine were not in compliance with federal standards.

Massey Execs' Access To Mine After Blast Questioned

September 2, 2010 • NPR NEWS INVESTIGATION: The two officials were underground, unsupervised for as long as four hours after the explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in April. Massey Energy says the pair were searching for survivors, but some investigators and experts are concerned they could have tampered with evidence.

Massey Execs' Access To Mine After Blast Questioned

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Feds Vow Crackdown On Mines That Game Safety Checks

August 26, 2010 • Federal regulators vowed to crack down on mine operators who warn miners of inspectors' arrival.

Massey Settles With 4 Miners' Families; Criminal Probe Continues

August 25, 2010 • Massey Energy agreed to settlements with four families of dead miners as a criminal probe continued.

Chilean Mine Rescuers Face Daunting Challenge

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera holds up a plastic bag Sunday in Copiapo, Chile, containing a message from the trapped miners that reads, "We are OK in the refuge, the 33 miners." Hector Retamal/AP hide caption

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Hector Retamal/AP

Latin America

Chilean Mine Rescuers Face Daunting Challenge

August 23, 2010 • U.S. mining experts say Chilean authorities face two daunting tasks as they try to rescue 33 miners trapped underground since Aug. 5: drilling a wide borehole nearly a half-mile down to reach the miners; keeping the miners safe and sane during four months of expected drilling.

Chilean Mine Rescuers Face Daunting Challenge

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Mine Safety In America

Second Whistle-Blower Complaint For Massey Miner

August 11, 2010 • Ricky Lee Campbell of Beckley, W.Va., is a central figure in the federal criminal investigation that grew out of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in April that left 29 mine workers dead.

Mine Safety In America

Mine Disaster Answers Still Months Away

August 11, 2010 • Federal mine safety officials urged caution in the wake of conflicting reports about the investigation of the April coal mine disaster in West Virginia that left 29 mineworkers dead. Mine owner Massey Energy has tried to present its own theory about the tragedy.

Mine Disaster Answers Still Months Away

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Mine Safety In America

Key Methane Monitors At W.Va. Mine Not Disabled

August 8, 2010 • Testing of two methane monitors from the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia has not detected any evidence of tampering, NPR has learned. The methane monitors were removed from the longwall mining machine believed to be a possible ignition source of the April 5 explosion that killed 29 mine workers.

Investigations

Methane Monitors Recovered In Mine Blast Probe

August 5, 2010 • Investigators have recovered three key pieces of evidence in the explosion that killed 29 mine workers in West Virginia on April 5, NPR has learned. The evidence includes two safety devices that sound alarms and shut down mining machines when methane gas approaches explosive levels. Investigators want to know whether the devices were a factor in the blast.

Methane Monitors Recovered In Mine Blast Probe

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Mine Safety In America

Massey Tells Families Mine Monitors Not Disabled

August 2, 2010 • In a private briefing for families of the victims, company executives also repeated claims that the massive blast that killed 29 mine workers was caused by natural forces.

Mine Safety In America

Massey Eyes Methane As Cause Of Mine Blast

July 23, 2010 • An information vacuum in the investigation of the deadly mine disaster in West Virginia in April has mine owner Massey Energy suggesting possible causes of the explosion. The latest involves a massive infusion of methane gas before the blast.

Massey Eyes Methane As Cause Of Mine Blast

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Rush Of Gas Caused Mine Blast, Massey Theorizes

Don L. Blankenship, chairman and chief executive officer of Massey Energy Company (left), watches as protesters disrupt a luncheon at the National Press Club, where he spoke on Thursday. Wayne Huang/NPR hide caption

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Mine Safety In America

Rush Of Gas Caused Mine Blast, Massey Theorizes

July 22, 2010 • In twin assaults Thursday, both Massey Energy and CEO Don Blankenship suggested that an "overwhelming" rush of methane gas may have been the cause of a deadly April 5 explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. Mine safety officials are skeptical.

Mine Safety In America

Massey Floats New Theory For Cause Of Mine Blast

July 22, 2010 • Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship spoke at the National Press Club in Washington on Thursday as his company floated a new theory for the cause of the April 5th explosion that killed 29 mine workers. The theory appears to be the latest attempt by the company to deflect criticism of its own safety practices.

Massey Floats New Theory For Cause Of Mine Blast

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Accessibility links

Massey Execs' Access To Mine After Blast Questioned

Chilean Mine Rescuers Face Daunting Challenge

Mine Disaster Answers Still Months Away

Methane Monitors Recovered In Mine Blast Probe

Massey Eyes Methane As Cause Of Mine Blast

Massey Floats New Theory For Cause Of Mine Blast