Mining Incidents

Dry Branch Surface Mine Coal

Extra Energy, Inc. · Surface
Controlled by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
Anawalt, Mcdowell County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609395

Dry Branch Surface Mine has $284K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5 outstanding across 11 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
18
Years on record
2013–2026
Latest incident
Apr 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2012
230
citations
31
significant & substantial
$283,541
proposed penalties
$142,499
paid to date
50% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $141,042 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2011
63
inspections on record
3,116
inspection hours
7.4
citations per 100 inspection hours
This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
230 citations across 3,116 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Dry Branch Surface Mine has $284K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5 outstanding across 11 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$284K
proposed penalties
$143K
current assessed
$142K
paid to date
$5
outstanding
214 assessments are final orders; 11 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-25.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Dry Branch Surface Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.12 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 498 samples.

Health sampling
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.
Respirable coal dust
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.
0.12
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.94
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
498
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-17.
Silica (quartz)
15.4
silica avg (%)
33.9
silica max (%)
53
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-02-18.
Noise
0%
over PEL
82
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-02-20.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 44,902 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 46,680 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 47,171 10 1 212.0
2025 Q1 48,626 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 40,698 5 0 122.9
2024 Q3 50,410 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 54,989 6 1 109.1
2024 Q1 63,792 5 3 78.4
Show 46 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 63,003 12 0 190.5
2023 Q3 72,613 2 0 27.5
2023 Q2 82,224 12 2 145.9
2023 Q1 84,398 24 1 284.4
2022 Q4 77,369 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 82,841 16 2 193.1
2022 Q2 85,778 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 86,581 10 0 115.5
2021 Q4 78,614 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 71,845 8 2 111.4
2021 Q2 72,172 10 1 138.6
2021 Q1 70,708 8 1 113.1
2020 Q4 64,715 8 0 123.6
2020 Q3 71,770 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 74,595 14 0 187.7
2020 Q1 86,241 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 67,096 6 0 89.4
2019 Q3 71,379 7 1 98.1
2019 Q2 73,495 4 1 54.4
2019 Q1 58,982 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 55,087 10 1 181.5
2018 Q3 55,030 2 0 36.3
2018 Q2 54,672 6 1 109.7
2018 Q1 55,096 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 23,631 2 1 84.6
2017 Q3 64,098 6 1 93.6
2017 Q2 57,512 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 43,996 5 0 113.6
2016 Q4 37,516 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 34,435 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 33,301 3 0 90.1
2016 Q1 28,639 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 32,153 2 0 62.2
2015 Q3 28,401 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 26,995 1 0 37.0
2015 Q1 20,054 1 0 49.9
2014 Q4 0 0 0
2014 Q3 0 0 0
2014 Q2 0 0 0
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 0 0 0
2013 Q3 3,252 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 37,159 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 48,156 2 1 41.5
2012 Q4 55,572 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 51,488 5 2 97.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

18 on file

2026 · 3 incidents

April 29, 2026 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
Extra Energy, Inc. · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee bent forward and subsequently experienced pain and numbness in the lower back and legs.

April 23, 2026 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a pry bar to adjust hoist cylinder, when the bar slipped and struck EE's mouth and broke a tooth.

January 15, 2026 WV · Coal welder (non-shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by flying object

Employee was using a sledgehammer to remove a tooth from a spare bucket. EE was struck by a small piece of metal, and it took stitches to close the wound.

2024 · 4 incidents

December 2, 2024 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Extra Energy, Inc. · Fall from machine

Employee was dismounting a rock truck when EE lost EE's grip and fell to the ground.

April 30, 2024 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was fueling and servicing a rock truck when EE was struck by a fuel hose and knocked to the ground.

February 25, 2024 WV · Coal FIRE
Extra Energy, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

An employee was operating the 2012 Cat 993K loader #551 loading overburden in the 11B pit. At approximately 3:42 AM flames were noticed coming from the rear of the engine compartment near the radiator. The on-board fire suppression activated as the operator exited the cab but could not contain the fire within 30 minutes of discovery.

January 25, 2024 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Employee was assigned to conduct cleaning activities on the Poca 9 from the Horsepen level, at this time highwall materials loosed up at the 12 C level and fell away from the highwall. The material travelled across two safety benches that are approximately 30 feet wide each. The material struck the Excavator, including the operators compartment.

2023 · 1 incident

April 6, 2023 WV · Coal FIRE
Extra Energy, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

An idle Dozer was found to be on fire at 5:45 PM, crews tried to extinguish the fire but were unsuccessful. Since it was not being operated at the time and no one was near the machine and the fire damage was extensive, an indication as to what started the fire can not be determined at this time.

2022 · 1 incident

May 24, 2022 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by flying object

The Tech was performing a removal of a Y-PIN on a 993k Wheel Loader. They were pulling the Y-PIN with the PIN tool specified in the CAT SIS system. When pressure was applied the puller rod pulled the threads out of the end of the Y-PIN. When they moved the apparatus the bell slid off of the puller rod causing the weight of the rod to flip back and strike the tech in the face.

2021 · 2 incidents

November 5, 2021 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by flying object

EE was struck in the face with a fragment of steel that flew off a mounting pin. The pin was struck by a sledgehammer to drive into place on a Pan hard Bar for a Caterpillar rock truck. EE received a laceration that required 3 stitches to close the wound.

July 14, 2021 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Extra Energy, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was stemming holes when EE experienced low back strain/pain.

2020 · 1 incident

December 5, 2020 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Extra Energy, Inc. · Fall from machine

EE, at the beginning of the shift was climbing the mounting ladder on the 789C Rock truck and as EE went to grab the grab rail on the front of the cab, missed the rail with hand and as a result fell backwards and landed on back & right hip.

2018 · 2 incidents

September 7, 2018 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a 1/2" drive impact to remove the 18 MM bolts. The socket used was a swivel version and the swivel joint has a small pin that backed out of the retainer. This pin caught the employee's index finger through the leather glove and EE suffered a laceration that required 7 stitches.

January 9, 2018 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Extra Energy, Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Stepping down out of the truck, slipped & fell to the ground, hurt back & elbow

2015 · 2 incidents

October 28, 2015 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

cutting flooring with a worm hole skill saw, the saw kicked back & cut left middle finger.

January 14, 2015 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec MACHINERY
Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Employee was in the process of falling a tree when a part of the tree kicked back and hit the employee on the leg.

2013 · 2 incidents

June 22, 2013 WV · Coal security guard, watchman OTHER
Extra Energy, Inc. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was logging traffic in & out of property. A vehicle stopped at bldg. a dog jumped out of car's window and attacked the employee.

March 21, 2013 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Extra Energy, Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting off dozer when he slipped causing him to twist his left knee.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Dry Branch Surface Mine

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.