Series 8. Oversize, Upper Big Branch Maps (Boxes 86-110), 2005–2010

This series consists of maps and some photographs created during the investigation of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster [2010] and a few maps of the Aracoma Alma Mine accident [2006]. The descriptions of the maps are based on transcriptions of text found on the maps themselves, including location codes, mapping team names, dates, and sometimes labels. Other than the transcribed text used for description, there is little or no additional textual content on most of these maps.

According to McAteer:

The maps are the result of a project to map the explosion of the Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010. The mapping involved an analysis of charcol resulting from the explosion of the coal to determine direction, speed, and force of the explosion. The maps are dated by when an investigation was conducted on a section of the mine represented by a map.

The alpha-numerics associated with the maps correlate to the MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) report of the Upper Big Branch explosion.

There were four teams conducting the investigation which took place over 10 months, 12 hours per day. Each day maps (of where the explosion occurred) were prepared for the teams, which met briefly in the morning at 6am. During the physical investigation, evidence was recorded onto the maps showing the results of flame and explosion. There are accompanying pictures to the report. The accumulated evidence formed the basis of the MSHA report.