Massey Energy
Former American coal producer whose operations included the Upper Big Branch mine, site of the 2010 disaster that killed 29 miners.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Massey Energy was an American coal-extraction and processing company that operated principally in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. Its origins lay in the A. T. Massey Coal Company, established in Richmond, Virginia, in 1920 by A. T. Massey as a coal-brokering business. The company entered mining in 1945 and subsequently expanded into coal production, preparation, transportation and sales. Over the following decades, Massey became one of the most significant producers in Central Appalachia. Its output included bituminous steam and metallurgical coal, generally with relatively low sulfur content. By 2010, the company operated or controlled a large Appalachian resource base, with mines and processing or shipping facilities distributed across several states. Reference material describes approximately 35 underground mines and 12 surface mines, annual production of roughly 40 million tons, about 5,850 employees, and proven and probable reserves of approximately 2.3 billion tons. By revenue, it was described as the fourth-largest U.S. coal producer and the largest producer in Central Appalachia; by production weight, it ranked sixth nationally. Massey's corporate history was shaped by ownership changes and acquisitions. St. Joe Minerals obtained a controlling interest in 1974, and part of the business was later associated with Royal Dutch Shell through the Massey Coal Partnership. After Fluor Corporation acquired St. Joe Minerals, the partnership was dissolved in 1987. The Fluor-owned operations returned to the A. T. Massey Coal Company name and expanded substantially through acquisitions. A reverse spin-off from Fluor in 2000 created the publicly traded Massey Energy Company. The company also became associated with labor conflict, environmental disputes and repeated safety controversies. A 1984 strike by the United Mine Workers of America produced confrontations later documented in the film "Mine War on Blackberry Creek." In 2000, the failure of a coal-slurry impoundment operated by a Massey subsidiary in Martin County, Kentucky, released more than 200 million gallons of slurry into nearby waterways. Massey later faced major Clean Water Act litigation and settlements, as well as disputes over mining beneath homes, coal dust, water contamination and mine-development projects near communities and schools. Safety failures became the defining issue in Massey's final years. Accidents at the Aracoma Alma, Black Castle and Independence operations killed or injured workers and resulted in criminal, civil and regulatory penalties. On April 5, 2010, an explosion at the company-owned Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killed 29 miners. The Mine Safety and Health Administration concluded that extensive safety violations and a production-centered management culture contributed to the coal-dust explosion. In December 2011, the agency announced penalties totaling $10,825,368 based on 369 citations and orders. Don Blankenship, who had led Massey as chairman and chief executive for approximately 18 years, left the chief executive role at the end of 2010 and was succeeded by Baxter F. Phillips Jr. In January 2011, Alpha Natural Resources announced an agreement to acquire Massey. Shareholders of both companies approved the transaction, and the acquisition was completed in 2011 for approximately $7.1 billion. Alpha also agreed to resolve potential criminal liabilities associated with Massey's operations. Massey ceased to exist as an independent company, although its mines and liabilities continued under Alpha Natural Resources and related successor entities.
History
A. T. Massey incorporated the A. T. Massey Coal Company in Richmond, Virginia, in 1920 as a coal brokerage. The business acquired its first mining operation in 1945 and gradually developed into an integrated Appalachian coal producer with mining, preparation, transportation and marketing capabilities. Several generations of the Massey family led the enterprise during its early expansion. St. Joe Minerals acquired a controlling interest in 1974. In 1980, St. Joe sold half of its interest to Royal Dutch Shell, creating the Massey Coal Partnership. Fluor Corporation acquired St. Joe Minerals in 1981. The partnership was dissolved in 1987, after which Fluor's portion resumed the A. T. Massey Coal Company name and expanded through acquisitions. The company was involved in a major United Mine Workers strike in 1984, with confrontations later chronicled in the documentary film "Mine War on Blackberry Creek." Don Blankenship became president, chairman and chief executive in 1992. During his tenure, Massey pursued growth through acquisitions and established multiple operating subsidiaries. In 2000, the company completed a reverse spin-off from Fluor and adopted the Massey Energy Company name. By 2010, it was a major Central Appalachian producer of bituminous steam and metallurgical coal, operating mines and processing or shipping centers in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, with additional resource interests described in Tennessee. Massey's growth was accompanied by extensive environmental and labor controversy. In October 2000, a slurry impoundment associated with Martin County Coal, a Massey subsidiary, breached into an abandoned mine and released more than 200 million gallons of coal waste into Coldwater Creek and Wolf Creek in Kentucky. The spill killed aquatic life, contaminated local water resources and required a large cleanup effort. The company later agreed to a $20 million EPA settlement concerning thousands of Clean Water Act violations involving coal slurry and wastewater. Other disputes involved alleged coal-dust impacts near Sylvester, West Virginia; loss of residential water wells after mining beneath homes in Mingo County; underground slurry injection near Prenter; and the proposed development of coal infrastructure near Marsh Fork Elementary School. Court proceedings also addressed a disputed coal-supply contract with Harman Mining, including a 2009 United States Supreme Court ruling requiring a West Virginia justice to recuse himself because of the appearance of bias. Workplace incidents included the January 2006 Aracoma Alma mine fire, which killed Don Bragg and Ellery Hatfield; the February 2006 Black Castle surface-mine gas-line fire, which killed bulldozer operator Paul K. Moss; and the October 2008 death of Steven Cain at the Independence Coal Justice No. 1 mine. These events produced criminal pleas, civil penalties and criticism of training, equipment and management practices. The Upper Big Branch disaster on April 5, 2010, transformed scrutiny of Massey into a national mine-safety issue. The explosion killed 29 miners. MSHA's final findings, issued in December 2011, attributed the disaster to flagrant violations and conditions in which production was prioritized over safety. The agency identified 369 violations and imposed penalties exceeding $10.8 million. Blankenship stepped down at the end of 2010 and Baxter F. Phillips Jr. became chief executive. Alpha Natural Resources agreed in 2011 to acquire Massey for approximately $7.1 billion. The transaction was approved by shareholders and courts and ended Massey's existence as an independent company. Alpha subsequently settled potential criminal liabilities connected with the acquired operations.
- 2011
Alpha Natural Resources announces acquisition
[1]Alpha agrees to acquire Massey in a transaction valued at approximately $7.1 billion.
- 2011
MSHA issues Upper Big Branch findings
[1]Federal investigators announce 369 citations and penalties totaling $10,825,368.
- 2010
Upper Big Branch mine disaster
[2]An explosion at Upper Big Branch kills 29 miners in West Virginia.
- 2006
Aracoma Alma mine fire
[1]Two miners die in a belt-line fire at the Aracoma Alma No. 1 mine.
- 2000
Reverse spin-off creates Massey Energy Company
[1]The business separates from Fluor through a reverse spin-off and adopts the Massey Energy Company name.
- 2000
Martin County coal-slurry spill
[3]A slurry impoundment associated with a Massey subsidiary fails in Kentucky, releasing more than 200 million gallons of coal waste.
- 1992
Don Blankenship becomes chief executive
[1]Blankenship assumes the company's top leadership and oversees a long period of acquisition-led growth.
- 1987
Massey Coal Partnership is dissolved
[1]Fluor and Royal Dutch Shell divide the partnership's operations, while Fluor's business returns to the A. T. Massey name.
- 1984
United Mine Workers strike
[1]A strike against A. T. Massey produces a prolonged and contentious labor conflict.
- 1974
St. Joe Minerals acquires control
[1]St. Joe Minerals takes a controlling interest in A. T. Massey.
Products and positioning
Large-scale Central Appalachian coal producer serving utility and steelmaking markets.
Thermal coal
Steam coal
Massey produced bituminous steam coal for electricity generation and other industrial applications. Its Appalachian output was marketed through company resource groups, processing facilities and shipping centers, with coal commonly prepared and blended before sale.
Coking coal
Metallurgical coal
The company also extracted and processed metallurgical coal for steelmaking customers. This business became particularly important in the proposed Alpha Natural Resources transaction, which was described as creating the largest U.S. metallurgical-coal company at the time.
Controversies
2011
Upper Big Branch regulatory penalties
MSHA issued 369 citations and orders and assessed more than $10.8 million in penalties, described as the agency's largest monetary penalty at that time.
2010
Upper Big Branch mine disaster
The deaths of 29 miners exposed extensive alleged safety failures. MSHA later concluded that flagrant violations and a production-over-safety culture contributed to the explosion.
2000
Martin County coal-slurry spill
A Massey subsidiary's impoundment failed in Kentucky, releasing more than 200 million gallons of slurry and contaminating waterways and drinking-water resources.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Anti-mountaintop-removal protests
United States
Environmental activists conducted a prolonged campaign against mountaintop-removal mining and related Massey sites in Appalachia.
Outcome. A Raleigh County judge granted a preliminary injunction restricting protests at some Massey sites.
- 2005Marsh Fork Elementary School opposition campaign
United States
Community and environmental activists opposed coal infrastructure near Marsh Fork Elementary School in West Virginia. Protests included the arrest of several nonviolent demonstrators, while some local residents and employees supported Massey because of its economic importance.
Outcome. A permit was revoked in 2005, but later litigation ultimately allowed construction of a second silo.
Brand decisions
2011
Sale to Alpha Natural ResourcesM&ABackground
Massey faced substantial operational, environmental and potential criminal liabilities after the Upper Big Branch disaster.
Action taken
Alpha Natural Resources agreed to acquire Massey for approximately $7.1 billion. Shareholders of both companies approved the transaction.
Aftermath
Massey ceased to operate as an independent company, and Alpha assumed responsibility for resolving potential criminal liabilities associated with the acquired business.
Transaction value. $7.1 billion (2011 acquisition announcement and completion period)
2010
Chief executive succession after Upper Big BranchOtherBackground
Don Blankenship had led Massey for approximately 18 years, including the period in which the company faced mounting safety criticism.
Action taken
Blankenship stepped down at the end of 2010 and Baxter F. Phillips Jr. became chief executive.
Aftermath
The leadership change preceded Alpha Natural Resources' acquisition of the company.
2000
Separate from Fluor and adopt the Massey Energy nameStrategyBackground
After years under the ownership of St. Joe Minerals, Fluor and the Massey Coal Partnership, the operating business was reorganized through a reverse spin-off.
Action taken
The company became Massey Energy Company and continued expanding as an independent coal producer.
Aftermath
The new company pursued acquisitions and grew into a major Central Appalachian producer before being sold to Alpha Natural Resources.
Sources3 sources
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