Extra Energy, Inc. · Struck by falling object
Employee was raising gate to allow vehicle off property. The gate broke and hit EE's right hand, breaking 2 fingers and cut hand.
Dry Branch Surface Mine: 230 MSHA citations 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
- 19
- Years on record
- 2013–2026
- Latest incident
- Jul 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.
Of $177K in penalties contested before the Commission, $36K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-25.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ
Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.13.8%
significant & substantial
9.8%
high negligence or reckless
13.8%
reasonably likely or greater
46.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.4% none, 46.9% low, 42.9% moderate, 9.8% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
ⓘ
Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
14
citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
- Settled 14 · 100%
67%
S&S designation survived the contest
ⓘ
Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.of 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
80%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$177K proposed, $36K after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2025-08-11.
Contested penalties
ⓘ
A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEVA 2024-0350 | Settlement | Bulluck | 2025 | $88K → $8K |
| WEVA 2024-0245 | Settlement | Bulluck | 2025 | $25K → $3K |
| WEVA 2023-0072 | Settlement | Young | 2023 | $23K → $10K |
| WEVA 2012-1270 | Settlement | Steele | 2014 | $16K → $3K |
| WEVA 2019-0205 | Settlement | Paez | 2019 | $8K → $5K |
| WEVA 2023-0071 | Settlement | Young | 2023 | $7K → $1K |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Dry Branch Surface Mine shows 100% of 498 respirable coal dust samples met the 1.5 mg/m3 standard.
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.
Last sampled: 2026-06-17
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
498
samples
1.94
dust max (mg/m3)
1
over MSHA ECV
ⓘ
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.225 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 273 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR279
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR153
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE32
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2026-02-1815.4
silica avg (%)
53
samples
33.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR45
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR8
Noise
ⓘ
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.
Last sampled: 2026-02-20
ⓘ
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.0%
over PEL
82
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR35
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR23
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE14
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Health sampling trend
ⓘ
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 by year
ⓘ
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.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | 13 |
| 2025 | 100% | 25 |
| 2024 | 100% | 35 |
| 2023 | 100% | 52 |
| 2022 | 100% | 42 |
| 2021 | 100% | 35 |
| 2020 | 100% | 43 |
| 2019 | 100% | 52 |
| 2018 | 100% | 50 |
| 2017 | 98% | 53 |
| 2016 | 100% | 42 |
| 2015 | 100% | 38 |
| 2013 | 100% | 8 |
| 2012 | 100% | 10 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20.1 | 2 |
| 2024 | 15.5 | 4 |
| 2023 | 11.9 | 9 |
| 2021 | 2.4 | 3 |
| 2020 | 17.6 | 6 |
| 2019 | 24.8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 23.5 | 4 |
| 2017 | 11.4 | 12 |
| 2016 | 12.9 | 5 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0% | 7 |
| 2024 | 0% | 5 |
| 2023 | 0% | 13 |
| 2022 | 0% | 3 |
| 2020 | 0% | 6 |
| 2019 | 0% | 4 |
| 2018 | 0% | 10 |
| 2017 | 0% | 16 |
| 2016 | 0% | 5 |
| 2015 | 0% | 5 |
| 2013 | 0% | 3 |
| 2012 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Dry Branch Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.89 cases per 100 workers that year.
| Year | total case rate | days-away | fatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2024 | 2.86 | 2.86 | 0.000 |
| 2023 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2022 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2021 | 0.68 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2020 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2019 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2018 | 0.91 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
- Extra Energy, Inc. 2011 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
ⓘ
Coal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.| Year | Employees | Coal produced (tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 99 | 169,910 |
| 2025 | 82 | 275,231 |
| 2024 | 95 | 279,715 |
| 2023 | 126 | 425,050 |
| 2022 | 141 | 571,446 |
| 2021 | 125 | 475,445 |
| 2020 | 125 | 564,354 |
| 2019 | 106 | 480,629 |
| 2018 | 81 | 498,396 |
| 2017 | 87 | 599,557 |
| 2016 | 54 | 470,232 |
| 2015 | 41 | 246,050 |
| 2014 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 39 | 278,040 |
| 2012 | 78 | 263,600 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Dry Branch Surface Mine sits in McDowell County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 13.0% of county employment.
Local economic context
ⓘ
County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.McDowell County, West Virginia · Population 18,413
13.0%
Mining share of county employment
$29,980
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q2 | 63,064 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 Q1 | 59,155 | 10 | 2 | 169.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 44,902 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 46,680 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 47,171 | 5 | 1 | 106.0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 48,626 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 40,698 | 4 | 0 | 98.3 |
| 2024 Q3 | 50,410 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 48 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 54,989 | 6 | 1 | 109.1 |
| 2024 Q1 | 63,792 | 5 | 3 | 78.4 |
| 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 | 6 | 0 | 84.1 |
| 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 | 2 | 0 | 60.1 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 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
19 on file2026 · 4 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.