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[DOCID: f:s95-244m.wais]

.
VULCAN MATERIALS CO.
October 2, 1995
Se 95-244-M


           FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

                 OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
                        2 SKYLINE, 10th FLOOR
                          5203 LEESBURG PIKE
                    FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA  22041


                           October 2, 1995

SECRETARY OF LABOR,                    :  CIVIL PENALTY PROCEEDINGS
  MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH               :
  ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),               :  Docket No. SE 95-244-M
                Petitioner             :  A.C. No. 31-00198-05535A
                                       :
          v.                           :
                                       :  Docket No. SE 95-245-M
RICHARD DALE MILLER and,               :  A.C. No. 31-00198-05536A
  JON LEE STEVENS, employed by         :
     VULCAN MATERIALS CO.,             :  Rockingham Mine
                Respondent             :
                                       :
SECRETARY OF LABOR,                    :  Docket No. SE 94-605-M
  MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH               :  A.C. No. 31-00198-05531
  ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),               :
                Petitioner             :  Rockingham Mine
          v.                           :
                                       :
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY,              :
                Respondent             :

                               DECISION

Appearances:  Leslie John Rodriguez, Esq., Office of the Solicitor,
              U.S. Department of Labor, Atlanta, Georgia, for the
              Petitioner; William K. Doran, Esq., Smith, Heenan &
              Althen, Washington, D.C., for the Respondent.

Before:  Judge Melick

     These cases are before me upon petitions for assessment of
civil penalty under Sections 105(d) and 110(c) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the Act).  At hearings Petitioner
filed a motion to approve a settlement agreement proposing to vacate
the charges in Docket Nos. SE 95-244-M and SE 95-245-M and to increase
the penalty in Docket No. SE 94-605-M from $4,000 to $6,500.  I have
considered the representations and documentation submitted in these
cases and I conclude that the proffered settlement is acceptable
under the criteria set forth in Section 110(i) of the Act.


     WHEREFORE, the motion for approval of settlement is GRANTED.
Case Docket Nos. SE 95-244-M and SE 95-245-M are accordingly vacated
and in case Docket No. 94-605-M it is ORDERED that Respondent pay a
penalty of $6,500 within 30 days of this order.


                                    Gary Melick
                                    Administrative Law Judge
                                    703-756-6261


Distribution:

Leslie John Rodriguez, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of
Labor, 1371 Peachtree Street, N.E., Room 339, Atlanta, GA  30367
(Certified Mail)

William K. Doran, Esq., Smith, Heenan & Althen, 1110 Vermont Ave.,
N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C.  20005  (Certified Mail)

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