/npr-series-mine-safety-in-america NPR NEWS INVESTIGATION: Coverage of mine safety in the U.S. after an explosion at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia killed 29 workers. en-US Copyright KUNC/Community Radio for Northern Colorado 2020 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:45:02 GMT /business/2014-09-16/whats-the-regulatory-threshold-for-oil-industry-fatalities As the oil and gas industry has grown to employ over half a million oil and gas workers nationwide, the number of fatalities has grown as well. In 2013,… Tue, 16 Sep 2014 12:45:02 GMT /business/2014-09-16/whats-the-regulatory-threshold-for-oil-industry-fatalities Emily Guerin /arts-life/2014-08-01/new-castles-coal-legacy-smolders-under-burning-mountain The mountains surrounding New Castle, Colorado are on fire. But don’t panic. They’re always on fire, under the surface, out of sight.The town, 12 miles… Fri, 01 Aug 2014 10:00:00 GMT /arts-life/2014-08-01/new-castles-coal-legacy-smolders-under-burning-mountain Luke Runyon /npr-news/2013-09-24/jailed-massey-mine-boss-claims-he-was-companys-sacrificial-lamb Gary May claims his attorney colluded with attorneys for the mining company to avoid testimony implicating Massey in his crimes. Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:00:00 GMT /npr-news/2013-09-24/jailed-massey-mine-boss-claims-he-was-companys-sacrificial-lamb Howard Berkes /npr-news/2013-05-17/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast A study of mine blast victims finds further evidence that there's a resurgence of black lung among coal miners. The relatively young ages of some of the miners and their limited tenure underground suggests significant exposure to coal dust. Fri, 17 May 2013 16:47:00 GMT /npr-news/2013-05-17/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast Howard Berkes /npr-news/2013-04-16/the-cruelest-month-boston-blasts-join-list-of-dark-incidents The Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine school shootings and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster are among the infamous and sometimes horrific moments that have occurred during the month of April. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:23:00 GMT /npr-news/2013-04-16/the-cruelest-month-boston-blasts-join-list-of-dark-incidents Howard Berkes /2013-02-28/former-massey-ceo-accused-of-conspiracy-in-court-hearing Don Blankenship was implicated by another Massey executive who was pleading guilty to two conspiracy counts for his role in providing advance warnings to miners underground when federal inspectors arrived on the surface for surprise safety inspections. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:10:00 GMT /2013-02-28/former-massey-ceo-accused-of-conspiracy-in-court-hearing Howard Berkes /npr-news/2013-02-04/report-w-va-fails-to-enforce-new-regs-designed-to-prevent-mine-explosions The Charleston Gazettereports that mine regulators found hundreds of violations but haven't issued any citations. Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:19:00 GMT /npr-news/2013-02-04/report-w-va-fails-to-enforce-new-regs-designed-to-prevent-mine-explosions Howard Berkes /npr-news/2013-01-17/massey-mine-boss-sentenced-feds-toughen-mine-safety-rule Nearly three years after a deadly mine explosion in West Virginia, a former Massey Energy mine superintendent has been sentenced to prison and federal regulators have toughened a regulation that could have helped prevent the disaster. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:18:00 GMT /npr-news/2013-01-17/massey-mine-boss-sentenced-feds-toughen-mine-safety-rule Howard Berkes /npr-news/2012-11-28/mine-disaster-probe-leads-to-conspiracy-charges-against-former-executive David C. Hughart, former president of a Massey Energy subsidiary, is pleading guilty. The charges relate to a corporate culture that investigators say contributed to the nation's worst mine disaster in 40 years. Twenty nine miners died at one of Massey's West Virginia mines in a 2010 explosion. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:11:00 GMT /npr-news/2012-11-28/mine-disaster-probe-leads-to-conspiracy-charges-against-former-executive Howard Berkes /npr-news/2012-10-31/coal-mine-inspection-sweep-targets-cause-of-black-lung One of the 13 coal mines singled out by inspectors was once owned by Massey Energy, the company that owned the Upper Big Branch mine, the scene of a deadly 2010 explosion. Two others are owned by Murray Energy, whose Crandall Canyon coal mine experienced two collapses in 2007, killing nine miners and rescuers. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:57:00 GMT /npr-news/2012-10-31/coal-mine-inspection-sweep-targets-cause-of-black-lung Howard Berkes