[DOCID: f:c94-212m.wais] PIERCE SAND COMPANY May 18, 1995 CENT 94-212-M FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES 2 SKYLINE, 10th FLOOR 5203 LEESBURG PIKE FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA 22041 May 18, 1995 SECRETARY OF LABOR, : CIVIL PENALTY PROCEEDING MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), : Docket No. CENT 94-212-M Petitioner : A. C. No. 23-01557-05512 : v. : : PIERCE SAND COMPANY, : Pierce Sand Company Respondent : DECISION APPROVING SETTLEMENT Appearances: Margaret A. Miller, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U. S. Department of Labor, Denver, Colorado, for the Secretary; Bob Pierce, Stanberry, Missouri, pro se. Before: Judge Maurer This case is before me upon a petition for assessment of civil penalty under section 105(d) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the Act). An evidentiary hearing in this matter was held on March 2, 1995, in St. Joseph, Missouri. At the conclusion of that hearing, the parties filed a motion to approve a settlement agreement and to dismiss this case. A reduction in penalty from $862 to $556 is proposed. The citations, initial assessments, and the proposed settlement amounts are as follows: ----------------------------------------------------------------- INITIAL PROPOSED ----------------------------------------------------------------- CITATION NO. ASSESSMENT SETTLEMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4321896 $ 204 $ 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4321897 50 50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4321898 50 50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4321899 204 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4321900 50 50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4322041 50 50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4322042 50 50 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4322043 204 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL $ 862 $ 556 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- I have considered the representations and documentation submitted in this case, as well as the testimony contained in the record of proceedings and I conclude that the proffered settlement is appropriate under the criteria set forth in section 110(i) of the Act. WHEREFORE, the motion for approval of settlement is GRANTED, and it is ORDERED that respondent pay a penalty of $556 within 30 days of this decision, and upon receipt of that payment by MSHA, these proceedings are DISMISSED. Roy J. Maurer Administrative Law Judge Distribution: Margaret A. Miller, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U. S. Department of Labor, 1999 Broadway, Suite 1600, Denver, CO 80202- 5716 (Certified Mail) Bob Pierce, Owner, Pierce Sand Company, 111 East Main, Stanberry, MO 64489 (Certified Mail) /dcp