HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 69

(By Delegates Toney, Bridges, Vance, Brooks, Kirby, and Maynor)

[Introduced February 5, 2024; referred to the Committee on Rules]

Recognizing every February during a leap year as Upper Big Branch Miners' Month.

Whereas, The Upper Big Branch Mine disaster occurred on April 5, 2010, at approximately 3:02 p.m., roughly 1,000 feet underground in Raleigh County, West Virginia, Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine located in Montcoal, Raleigh County; and

Whereas, Twenty-nine out of thirty-one miners at the site were killed; and

Whereas, The accident was the worst in the United States since 1970; and

Whereas, The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) concluded an investigation on the disaster, and on December 6, 2011, reported that the disaster was an entirely preventable massive coal dust explosion that started as a methane ignition; and

Whereas, The contributions and sacrifices made by coal miners, at Upper Big Branch Mine and the unsafe conditions that led to this mine disaster, should not be forgotten and should forever be observed and encourage conversations involving mine safety to occur during this time period of the month of February in leap years; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the month of February during each leap year be recognized as Upper Big Branch Miners' Month.