Bull Gang Foreman

A water inundation occurred on the No. 1 Section in the No. 1 Face near spad 1717. Resulted in a Fatal injury. Rescue crews located the fatally injured person on 11/13/2025.

On November 8, 2025, at 12:05 p.m., Steven Lipscomb, a 42-year-old section foreman with over 19 years of mining experience, died after the mine was inundated with water when the active workings mined into an adjacent abandoned mine. Lipscomb was found on November 13, 2025, after the water level in the mine was pumped down. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not: 1) have an accurate and up-to-date map identifying the adjacent mine works within 1,000 feet of the active mine; and 2) follow the approved Alternate Drill Plan to verify the absence of the adjacent mine works to allow safe development of Rolling Thunder Mine.

1. The mine operator and contractor did not follow the approved Alternate Drill Plan.

   Corrective action: The mine operator and contractor developed enhanced written procedures for effectively drilling in the minable reserve and to accurately verify the absence of adjacent mine works. The new procedures require that drillers:

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Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Supervise

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

INTERSECTION

Mining method

Continuous Mining

Accident type

Drowning

Source of injury

WATER

Nature of injury

SUFFOC,SMOK INHILAT,DROWN

Body part affected

BODY SYSTEMS

Total mining experience

19 years

Experience at this mine

0 years

Experience in this job

9 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY