US / Upper Big Branch mine Mine Regulators Under FBI Investigation Mine Safety and Health officials may have been bribed By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff Posted Apr 30, 2010 12:04 PM CDT Copied In this April 4, 2010 file photo, West Virginia State Police direct traffic at the entrance to Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Coal Mine in Montcoal, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File) The FBI has launched a criminal investigation of the Mine Safety and Health Administration in connection with the Upper Big Branch mine disaster, and the agency is looking into allegations regulators took bribes from Massey Energy, sources tell NPR. Massey, which owned the mine, is also under investigation for criminal negligence. Massey says it's not aware of the allegations and is cooperating with investigators. (More Upper Big Branch mine stories.) Get breaking news in your inbox. What you need to know, as soon as we know it. Sign up Report an error