2023 underground coal production (short tons, from EIA)
124,979
2023 total coal production (short tons, from EIA)
124,979
2024 underground coal production (short tons, from MSHA)
427,100
2024 total coal production (short tons, from MSHA)
427,100
Coal type
bituminous (from combined MSHA and EIA info)
CO2 metric tons 2023
271,176
CO2 metric tons 2024
926,709
Data from MSHA
(The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor which enforces compliance with mandatory safety and health standards for mines.)
Mine ID
4609111
Mine state
West Virginia
Portable operation (mine can move around)
N
Current mine name
Rolling Thunder Mine
Current mine type
Underground
Current mine status
Active
Status date
04/22/2025
Current controller
Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc
Current operator
Nicholas-Contura, LLC
County
Nicholas
Company type
Other
Latitude
38.283056
Longitude
-81.133056
Directions to mine
Head west on Arbuckle Rd. toward Church St. 0.2mi. Turn right onto Broad St. 0.2mi. Turn left onto Main St. 0.2mi. Turn right onto WV-39 W/Turnpike Rd. 24.9 mi. Turn right onto WV-16N 0.8. Follow county rt. 20/21.
Nearest town
Swiss, WV
Mine has underground component (yes/no)
y
Mine has surface component (yes/no)
n
Mine has refuse component (yes/no)
n
Mine has preparation plant (yes/no)
y
Methane liberation (cubic feet each 24 hours)
186942
Data from EIA
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is an agency that is part of the U.S. Dept. of Energy and is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating energy information.
EIA mine name
Rolling Thunder Mine
Coal location state
West Virginia (Southern)
Note:
The EIA coal location state is the state where the coal is mined: the MSHA state is the state where the mine mouth is located. In this case they differ.
County
Nicholas
Mine status
Active
Company type
Operating Subsidiary
Operation type
Mine only
Operator name
Nicholas-Contura, Llc
Operator address
2644 Rd Bailey Hwy Pineville,, Brenton, WV 24818
Coal supply region
Appalachia Central
Mine has underground component (yes/no)
y
Mine has surface component (yes/no)
n
Mine has refuse component (yes/no)
n
Mine has preparation plant (yes/no)
n
Data from GEM
Global Energy Monitor (GEM) is an independent nonprofit organization that develops and shares information in support of the worldwide movement for clean energy. These data are from its Global Coal Mine Tracker database.
Political Economy Research Institute