The final concrete seal was put in place Wednesday at the Upper Big Branch mine site in Montcoal, according to officials with the mines’ current owner Alpha Natural Resources.
Two years ago in April, 29 men were killed in an explosion at Upper Big Branch in the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in four decades, devastating dozens of southern West Virginia families.
At the time of the explosion, UBB was owned by Massey Energy. Massey was bought out by Virginia-based Alpha last summer.
The announcement to seal the mine portals, which are large tunnels miners use to get underground, was made this year at the beginning of April. Ted Pile, Alpha’s vice president of corporate communications, said the decision to seal the mine was “clearly a consensus decision.”
He said crews have covered the concrete seals with fill dirt and are actively hydroseeding the area.
“We expect to be finished with all activities at Upper Big Branch within the next few weeks.”
— E-mail: wholdren@register-herald.com
Today's Front Page
Final seal placed at Upper Big Branch
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