Mining Incidents

Bishop Impoundment Area Coal

Controlled by James C Justice III
(Near Bishop Tazewell), Mcdowell County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4602380

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2000–2025
Latest incident
Oct 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2011
491
citations
145
significant & substantial
$428,570
proposed penalties
$158,781
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 18,713 28 12 1496.3
2025 Q3 27,267 9 1 330.1
2025 Q2 5,929 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 18,900 8 5 423.3
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q1 2,800 58 5 20714.3
2021 Q4 0 0 0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
February 27, 2017 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Fall from ladders

Employee was last observed as employee began to ascend an extension ladder. There is no eye witness, it is apparent the employee fell approximately 20ft. onto a moving conveyor belt and was fatally injured.

Reportable incidents

12 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 1 incident

October 4, 2025 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver OTHER
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was operating Rock Truck when EE started having trouble breathing., EE contacted the Foreman, the Foreman went and picked up EE, The Foreman called an ambulance and continued to the mine entrance to wait for the ambulance, EE stated EE had Heart problems. EE died of an apparent Heart Attack due EE's medical conditions.

2014 · 1 incident

July 14, 2014 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Pulling steel cable and bur went in hand

2013 · 7 incidents

September 14, 2013 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee heated a can of soup on truck engine and when he opened the can it exploded burning his face.

May 1, 2013 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Climbing steps on shovel preparing to change cables. Stepped up and foot stayed stable and straight, but knee twisted.

April 30, 2013 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against stationary object

The employee and two co-workers were pulling conveyor sheets from a box and one sheet slipped, striking the employee's right hand and cutting his index finger. The employee obtained medical treatment, received stitches to his index finger, and returned to work with no restrictions on his next scheduled day, 5/1/13.

April 8, 2013 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was assisting a mechanic change a tire and when tire became dislodged, employee lost his balance. In an attempt to break his fall, he twisted and felt a pull in his lower back.

February 17, 2013 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee states he slipped on icy ground hurting his lower back and right elbow. The injury wasn't reported to this office until 2/20/13. Employee sought medical attention on 2/20/13 for his lower back pain and was referred to an orthopedic specialist. That appt is scheduled for 3/11/13.

January 15, 2013 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee states he was loading aluminum wire trays on a truck and felt pain in right shoulder when he pulled 2 pieces from the stack to load. Employee did not seek medical treatment until 01/21/2013, at which time the injury was then reported to this office. Employee placed on modified duty.

2012 · 2 incidents

August 14, 2012 WV · Coal grader operator, roadgrader operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Victim was priming a pump and while picking up a 5 gallon bucket of water felt a pull in his neck and right shoulder.

June 7, 2012 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec POWERED HAULAGE
Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC · Struck against a moving object

While using a manlift to attach plywood to spirals, employee states that he unknowingly lowered the manlift boom on the corner of the opposing spiral frame. When he swung the boom out, it dropped off the frame causing the employee to hit his rib/chest area on the rail of the manlift basket. The employee received medical treatment and was placed on modified duty.

2000 · 1 incident