CounterSpill

In 2010, an explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine took the lives of 29 men. This was a culmination of sorts - the mine had received over 1,000 safety violations over its previous five years of operations and, after an extensive investigation, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration rulled the disaster as "entirely preventable."

Read up on the history and aftermath of the blast by viewing the following hand-selected journalism.

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"How Many Coal Miners Deaths Does It Take To Pass Safety Regulations?"

By Peter Galuszka, Slate Magazine

Although coal is arguably one of the oldest forms of energy, regulations and safety requirements remained archaic. Galuszka asks coal mining families about what has been done to ensure safety and explores the future of coal in a rapidly modernized world. 

"How The Upper Big Branch Blast Happened & Mapping The Loss"

By Nelson Hsu, Howard Berkes, Robert Benincasa and Alicia Cypress, NPR

This interactive infographic takes the reader through each step of the explosion, highlighting not only what went wrong but why. The graphic also memorializes the 29 men lost in the disaster and maps their last known whereabouts.

"Fed Release Devastating Findings On 'Preventable' Mine Disaster"

By Dave Jamieson, Huffington Post

When the investigation of the disaster concluded in December 2011, the results were shocking. Not only was the blast completely preventable, but one of the main contributors to the mine disrepair was a "corporate culture" focused on profit rather than safety. The article explores just how far the Massey Coal Company went to keep unsafe operations going.

"The Massey Mine Disaster: One Family's Struggle To Move On"

By The Week

Although the coal company was fairly quick to throw around cash, nothing replaces those lost in energy disaster. This article explores the loss felt by the family of blast victim Gary Wayne Quarles and the legal journey members embarked on to make sure no others would feel the pain they do. 

"A Golden Parachute For Don Blankenship"

By Matthew Mosk, ABC News

Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy, saw a lot of disasters happen during his time at the helm. Although this disaster preceded his departure from the company, he was still given a pretty hefty bon voyage gift, including $2.7 million and a house for life.