At the request of the Mine safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety, and Training, the NIOSH's Pittsburgh Research Laboratory evaluated the effects of explosions on specific mine ventilation seals at its Lake Lynn Experimental Mine to assist the agencies in their investigations of the explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia, which occurred on January 2, 2006. Six full-scale explosion tests were conducted to help answer questions regarding possible scenarios for the Sago explosion. NIOSH's findings and recommendations are documented within.