<DOC>
[DOCID: f:k96-387d.wais]

 
CONSOL OF KENTUCKY, INC. AND NORMAN BLANKENSHIP
April 24, 1997
KENT 96-387-D


        FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION


               OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
                      2 SKYLINE, 10th FLOOR
                       5203 LEESBURG PIKE
                  FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA  22041


                         April 24, 1997

SECRETARY OF LABOR,             :     TEMPORARY REINSTATEMENT PROCEEDING
  MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH        :
  ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),        :     Docket No. KENT 96-387-D
  on behalf of DEWEY RUNYON,    :     PIKE CD 96-06
               Applicant        :
                                :     Racoon Branch and
          v.                    :     Jones Fork/Brushy Mines
                                :     Mine ID 15-17667
CONSOL OF KENTUCKY, INC. AND    :
  NORMAN BLANKENSHIP,           :
               Respondent       :
                                :
                                :
SECRETARY OF LABOR,             :     DISCRIMINATION PROCEEDING
  MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH        :
  ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),        :     Docket No. KENT 96-388-D
  on behalf of DEWEY RUNYON,     :    PIKE CD 96-06
               Complainant      :
                                :     Racoon Branch and
          v.                    :     Jones Fork/Brushy Mines
                                :     Mine ID 15-17667
CONSOL OF KENTUCKY, INC., AND   :
  NORMAN BLANKENSHIP,           :
               Respondent       :


                            DECISION

Appearances:  Donna E. Sonner, Esq., Office of the
              Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor,
              Nashville, TN, on behalf of Secretary;
              Tony Oppegard, Esq., Lexington, Kentucky, on
              behalf of Dewey Runyon;
              David J. Hardy, Esq., Charleston, West Virginia,
              and Elizabeth Chamberlin, Esq., Consol of
              Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on behalf of
              Consol of Kentucky.

Before:  Judge Melick

     Following initial hearings, the Secretary, in effect,
requested approval to withdraw his Application for Temporary
Reinstatement and Discrimination Complaint in the captioned cases
on the grounds that the parties have reached a settlement.  Under
the circumstances herein, permission to withdraw is granted.  29
C.F.R. § 2700.11.  These cases are therefore dismissed.


                             Gary Melick
                             Administrative Law Judge

Distribution:

Donna E. Sonner, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of
Labor, 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite B-201, Nashville, TN 37215

Tony Oppegard, Esq., Mine Safety Project of the Appalachian
Research & Defense Fund of KY, Inc., 630 Maxwelton Court,
Lexington, KY 40508

Elizabeth Chamberlin, Esq., Consol, Inc., 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15241

David J. Hardy, Esq., Jackson & Kelly, P.O. Box 553, Charleston,
WV 25322

                             /jf