Mining Incidents

WAR CREEK NO. 1 Coal

Black River Coal, LLC · Underground
Controlled by James C Justice II
Bandy, Tazewell County, VA  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4406859

WAR CREEK NO. 1 has $1.1M in proposed MSHA penalties and $469K outstanding across 49 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
28
Years on record
2002–2013
Latest incident
Dec 2013
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
1,083
citations
378
significant & substantial
$1,120,866
proposed penalties
$330,316
paid to date
29% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $790,550 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
232
inspections on record
8,760
inspection hours
12.4
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.
1,083 citations across 8,760 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

WAR CREEK NO. 1 has $1.1M in proposed MSHA penalties and $469K outstanding across 49 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.
$1.1M
proposed penalties
$799K
current assessed
$330K
paid to date
$469K
outstanding
1,054 assessments are final orders; 49 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-01-04.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at WAR CREEK NO. 1 shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.51 mg/m3 (95% compliant) across 460 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.
0.51
dust avg (mg/m3)
8.31
dust max (mg/m3)
95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
460
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-09-30.
Silica (quartz)
12.2
silica avg (%)
29.0
silica max (%)
35
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-10-06.
Noise
9%
over PEL
57
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-08-28.
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
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 882 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 660 1 0 1515.2
2016 Q4 1,980 1 0 505.1
2016 Q3 1,646 5 0 3037.7
2016 Q2 1,864 0 0 0.0
Show 52 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2016 Q1 3,100 2 1 645.2
2015 Q4 9 21 4 2333333.3
2015 Q3 2,997 9 5 3003.0
2015 Q2 2,870 26 9 9059.2
2015 Q1 1,628 25 8 15356.3
2014 Q2 466 43 14 92274.7
2014 Q1 28,811 99 29 3436.2
2013 Q4 37,590 50 8 1330.1
2013 Q3 27,042 29 10 1072.4
2013 Q2 23,854 12 1 503.1
2013 Q1 24,574 30 13 1220.8
2012 Q4 18,246 23 6 1260.6
2012 Q3 17,158 18 10 1049.1
2012 Q2 20,926 106 42 5065.5
2012 Q1 4,108 19 5 4625.1
2011 Q3 630 3 0 4761.9
2011 Q2 623 5 0 8025.7
2011 Q1 664 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 946 5 1 5285.4
2010 Q3 1,052 6 3 5703.4
2010 Q2 935 5 3 5347.6
2010 Q1 1,127 2 0 1774.6
2009 Q4 925 1 0 1081.1
2009 Q3 594 1 0 1683.5
2009 Q2 585 5 0 8547.0
2009 Q1 378 40 7 105820.1
2008 Q4 1,284 16 3 12461.1
2008 Q2 95 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 330 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 9,853 63 23 6394.0
2007 Q1 10,376 38 15 3662.3
2006 Q4 7,566 50 17 6608.5
2006 Q3 1,454 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 5,593 28 12 5006.3
2006 Q1 7,077 28 12 3956.5
2005 Q4 7,099 40 21 5634.6
2005 Q3 8,906 34 15 3817.7
2005 Q2 8,571 13 8 1516.7
2005 Q1 3,297 5 3 1516.5
2004 Q4 608 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,257 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 18,290 13 7 710.8
2004 Q1 14,424 7 4 485.3
2003 Q4 15,620 4 2 256.1
2003 Q3 13,881 17 9 1224.7
2003 Q2 16,266 13 8 799.2
2003 Q1 13,480 9 5 667.7
2002 Q4 14,564 9 5 618.0
2002 Q3 10,670 8 2 749.8
2002 Q2 5,002 2 1 399.8
2000 Q2 0 0 0
2000 Q1 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

28 on file

2013 · 5 incidents

December 21, 2013 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Black River Coal, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Repair man changing boom swing jack on continuous miner. Trying to loosen hose fitting when wrench slipped and cut left hand. Went to doctor had four stitches. No time lost due to injury.

December 19, 2013 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black River Coal, LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling high voltage cable out of cable car when he said Oh I hurt my shoulder to witness. Kept on working. EE said he told foreman, foreman said he didn't. I was told on 12-19-13. No one can tell me what date injury happened.

October 14, 2013 VA · Coal scoop tram operator, load/haul/dump operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black River Coal, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Was shoveling belt outside on stacker went to kneel down lost footing and fell backwards into metal beam at belt drive.

September 14, 2013 VA · Coal IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Black River Coal, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Miner loader shuttle car started to load 2nd car in #6 heading when had ignition in face. No workers were injured. No Equipment damaged was only a flash with no duration. Investigated by MSHA.

July 24, 2013 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black River Coal, LLC · Fall from ladders

Plastering brattice, fell to bottom step of ladder, hit left knee on concrete block.

2012 · 4 incidents

October 19, 2012 VA · Coal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Black River Coal, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Repairman was at section power center that is located between #14 and #15 entry. Botton was cut in #14 entry leaving off set in bottom as he was leaving foot slipped and slid under 3 wheel ride that was parked resulting in twisting of knee.

May 25, 2012 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Black River Coal, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was operating offside bolter swing boom out to start drilling when piece rock 2' wide, 2' long, 8'10' long fell striking him on back and shoulder area.

April 12, 2012 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Black River Coal, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was moving stopping and knocked stopping was hand moving block when 8"x16"x4" solid block that was stuck to top fell striking left middle finger and ring finger on left hand.

March 8, 2012 VA · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss POWERED HAULAGE
Black River Coal, LLC · Struck by powered moving object

EE stated he got off ride to open door and man trip (2 person) rolled and hit him in lower back. EE was checked no cuts, scratches or bruising, didn't want to go to Dr. or accident report filled out at time was let go four weeks later. Just informed us he wants accident report filled out 4/15/12.

2010 · 1 incident

August 19, 2010 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Consolidation Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

No accident - we had a unplanned rock fall - no one was affected and the ventilation was not affected - rock fall blocked travelway. This was reported immediately after getting outside

2008 · 1 incident

November 24, 2008 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
C & J Leasing Inc · Accident type, without injuries

Rock fall at spad No.616. The fall is in an intersection in old works. This fall will not interfered with normal mining cable. The fill will be timbered and dangered off.

2007 · 3 incidents

April 18, 2007 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
CHH Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

Had a rock fall - adverse roof conditions on an old inactive mined area: 20 ft wide x 60 ft long

2006 · 1 incident

2005 · 6 incidents

2003 · 6 incidents

August 11, 2003 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Struck by falling object

EE WAS DRILLING THROUGH SOME CAP COAL WHEN THE COAL FELL LOOSE AND HIT HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND BACK.

June 17, 2003 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO MOVE COAL AND ROCK ON THE BELT DRIVE WITH A SLATE BAR. THE BAR GOT CAUGHT IN THE DRIVE AND PUSHED AGAINST EE'S CHEST.

May 15, 2003 VA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Struck by falling object

EE WAS TRAINING BELT LINE, BOTTOM ROLLER DROPPED AND FELL ON LEFT HAND.

May 8, 2003 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS RESTOCKING MINER CABLE USING A CRUMPING TOOL, WHEN A PIECE OF METAL BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO LEFT HAND.

January 17, 2003 VA · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS OPERATING REMOTE MINER, THEN HE MOVED THE MINER CABLE OUT OF THE WAY ABOUT 30 FEET, AND HURT LOWER BACK.

2002 · 1 incident

August 5, 2002 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
A&N Coal Co., Inc. · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON POWER BOX WHEN SCOOP DIPPER DROPPED OFF CAMBER, HITTING HIS LEFT THUMB.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on WAR CREEK NO. 1

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.