In 2019, I photographed miners, process operators, and reclamation workers at several of Corsa Coal’s metallurgical coal operations in eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland.
In 2025, the company filed for bankruptcy and laid off more than 300 workers.
Randall Fogle, 400 feet below ground, Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Shade Creek Preperation Plant, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Mine Superintendent, Joseph Hophman, Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Underground tag board, Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Shade Creek Preperation Plant, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Shovel Operator, Jim Frederick Yoak, Schrock Run Met Coal Mine, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
"This thing goes through about 700 gallons (of diesel) in a 12hr shift. You wonder how they make any money"
Shade Creek Preperation Plant, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Schrock Run Met Coal Mine, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Inside the mine office at the Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Robert 'Bobbie' Mack Jr. out the back of his house which sits beside a one of the Corsa Coal mine reclamation sites.
"I worked 20 years as a blaster, im retired now. I lived here before, during and now after the mine."
My Dad, my son and my grandfather were all involved with this company.
Shift Supervisor, Douglas Weaver, Schrock Run Met Coal Mine.
Mine Superintendent, Joseph Hophman, Casselman Deep Mine, Garrett County, Maryland.
Rick Smith Age (64), VP Surface Operations with his wife Julie Smith (54) out the back of their house in Pennsylvania.
The first two years that I worked here, I ran a dozer all winter—no cab, up on a mountain, where a rain suit was your best friend.
I never had any desire to move up in the company.
Now I sit in the boardroom with a bunch of these guys who have all these fancy degrees, and I did nothing but come straight out of high school and get on the machines. I’ll tell you what—I’ve been thinking about retiring in September.
Shade Creek Preperation Plant, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.