Wilberg Mine
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coal mining |
| Founded | September 1949 |
| Founder | Cyrus Wilberg |
| Headquarters | Huntington , United States |
Area served | Emery County, Utah |
| Products | Coal |
| Owner | PacifiCorp Energy |
| Parent | PacifiCorp |
The Wilberg Mine, also referred to as the Cottonwood/Wilberg Mine (MSHA ID No. 42-00080), is a coal mine situated in Emery County, Utah, roughly northwest of Orangeville. It lies just north of State Route 29 near the northern terminus of State Route 57. The mine is managed by Energy West Mining Company, headquartered in Huntington, and is owned by PacifiCorp Energy, a subsidiary of the utility firm PacifiCorp.
The majority of the extracted coal is transported by truck to the Hunter Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant operated by PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power division near Castle Dale.
Location
Positioned at coordinates (39.321078°, −111.122948°), the Wilberg Mine’s entrance sits at an altitude of 7,602 feet (2,317 meters).
History
The mine was established in September 1949 by Cyrus Wilberg. In October 1968, the rights to the mine were acquired by the Peabody Coal Company. Peabody suspended most mining activities aside from limited exploratory work until coal prices surged dramatically in March 1974. On April 18, 1977, Utah Power & Light (UP&L)—now known as Rocky Mountain Power under PacifiCorp—purchased the mining rights and contracted operations to the American Coal Company. Operational control transferred to Emery Mining Corporation (EMC) in June 1979.
By December 1984, the workforce numbered 326 employees, with 290 working underground across three shifts during five-day weeks. The mine produced an average daily output of approximately 11,000 tons of coal.
After the fire incident in 1984, the mine was divided into two separate operations; the western section was designated as the Cottonwood Mine (MSHA ID No. 42-01944). UP&L resumed direct management on April 29, 1986, establishing the UP&L Mining Division and retaining most of EMC’s personnel.
It is noteworthy that composer and conductor Mack Wilberg is related to a former part-owner of the mine.
1984 disaster
The Wilberg Mine is primarily remembered for the devastating fire on December 19, 1984, which resulted in the deaths of 27 individuals: 18 miners and nine company officials. This tragedy stands as Utah’s most fatal coal mine fire. The blaze obstructed escape paths after engulfing the intake area of the 5th Right longwall.
The fire was traced back to a malfunctioning air compressor that had been left running unattended in an area lacking fireproofing measures. Investigations by MSHA revealed that two defective safety devices on the compressor failed, allowing it to operate for 69 hours before spontaneously igniting and releasing poisonous gases throughout the mine’s tunnels.
Casualties
The following Emery Mining Corporation (EMC) personnel lost their lives in the Wilberg Mine disaster:
- Phillip Bell
- Bert Bennett
- James Bertuzzi
- David Bocook – (Mine Manager)
- Ricci Camberlango
- Curtis Carter
- Robert Christensen
- Vic Cingolani – (General Mine Foreman)
- Gordon Conover
- Randy Curry
- Owen Curtis
- Roger Glenn Ellis
- James Hamlin – (EMC Vice President of Operations)
- Leroy Hersh
- Brian Howard
- Barry Jacobs
- Gary Jennings
- Lee Johansen
- Joel Nevitt
- Alex Poulos – (General Mine Foreman-Longwall)
- Kelly Riddle
- Ray Snow
- Lynn Robinson
- John Waldoch
- Lester Walls, Jr.
- Nanette Wheeler
- John Wilsey