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Upper Big Branch Accident Investigation Interviews
Posted 5/9/2011

Mine Rescue Activities

    The interviews were conducted as part of the accident investigations conducted by MSHA and the State of West Virginia into the explosion at Upper Big Branch. The transcripts were released to family members on May 6, 2011, to give the families an opportunity to review them outside of the public's eye. These transcripts are the first of a series of interview transcripts that MSHA, with the approval of the Department of Justice, plans to release in the coming months.

Massey Mine Rescue


Aurednik, Jim UBB Employee 12/1/10; 1:05 p.m. I-0259
Bolen, Mark Massey Employee 1/6/11; 10:05 a.m. I-0261
Kinder, Scott Massey Employee 3/9/11; 10:30 a.m. I-0265
Kingery, Scott Massey Employee 1/5/11; 10:00 a.m. I-0260
McPherson, Shane Massey Employee 3/9/11; 8:00 a.m. I-0266

MSHA Mine Rescue


Brown, Virgil MSHA 5/24/10; 1:19 p.m. I-0042
Cook, Jerry MSHA 5/26/10; 1:04 p.m. I-0051
Hicks, Mike MSHA 6/8/10; 10:00 a.m. I-0071
Leverknight, David MSHA 6/3/10; 3:50 p.m. I-0065
Martin, Fred MSHA 5/27/10; 1:00 p.m. I-0054
Matthews, Edward MSHA 5/17/10; 10:02 a.m. I-0023
Shumate, Mike MSHA 6/22/2010 I-0100
Sparks, Clayton Edward MSHA 6/8/10; 3:00 p.m. I-0073
Urosek, John MSHA 9/20/10; 1:00 p.m. I-0241
Wills, Fred MSHA 6/8/10; 8:00 a.m. I-0070

WVOMHS&T Mine Rescue

Fletcher, Barry WVOMHS&T 5/17/10; 10:51 a.m.
5/18/10; 9:34 a.m.		 I-0024a
I-0024b
Kinder, John WVOMHS&T 5/20/10; 10:30 a.m. I-0033
McClure, Dwight WVOMHS&T 5/24/10; 10:46 a.m. I-0041
Plumley, Mike WVOMHS&T 5/18/10; 8:12 a.m. I-0027
Scott, John WVOMHS&T 6/14/10; 10:01 a.m. I-0085
Smith, Randy WVOMHS&T 5/19/10; 1:40 p.m. I-0031
Snyder, Gary Steven WVOMHS&T 7/23/10; 10:31 a.m. I-0149
Tanner, Ralph WVOMHS&T 5/25/10; 2:05 p.m. I-0047
Tucker, Bill WVOMHS&T 5/12/10; 1:37 p.m. I-0014
White, Eugene WVOMHS&T 5/20/10; 1:00 p.m. I-0034


  • Transcripts of Interviews Published December 6, 2011