SECRETARY OF LABOR, : CIVIL PENALTY PROCEEDINGS
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH :
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), : Docket No. SE 2002-144
Petitioner : A. C. No. 01-01322-04240
:
v. : Docket No. SE 2002-145
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04256
JIM WALTER RESOURCES, INC., :
Respondent. : Docket No. SE 2002-148
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04247
:
: Docket No. SE 2002-150
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04245
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-1
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04241
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-2
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04242
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-3
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04243
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-4
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04244
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-5
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04246
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-6
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04248
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-7
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04249
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-8
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04250
: Docket No. SE 2003-9
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04251
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-10
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04252
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-11
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04253
:
: Docket No. SE 2003-12
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04254
:
: Docket No. 2003-13
: A. C. No. 01-01322-04255
:
: No. 5 Mine
DECISION APPROVING SETTLEMENT
| Appearances: | Leslie John Rodriguez, Esq., Michael K. Hagan, Esq., U. S. Department of
Labor, Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of Petitioner; David M. Smith, Esq., Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C., Birmingham, Alabama, on behalf of Respondent; Guy W. Hensley, Esq., Jim Walter Resources, Inc., Brookwood, Alabama, on behalf of Respondent. |
| Before: | Judge Barbour |
In these consolidated civil penalty cases, arising under Sections 105 and 110 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act or Act) (30 U. S. C. §§ 815, 820), the Secretary, on behalf of her Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), seeks civil penalty assessments for 309 alleged violations of mandatory safety standards found in Parts 41, 48, 50, 75, and 77 of Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, and for one alleged violation of Section 103(k) of the Act (30 U.S.C. § 813(k)). All of the citations were issued following September 23, 2001, the date when two explosions occurred at Jim Walter Resources, Inc.'s (JWR) No. 5 Mine. Although the explosions took the lives of 13 miners and seriously injured three others, none of the violations is alleged to have contributed to the cause of the accidents or to the resulting deaths and injuries (see Tr.12).
After the petitions were filed, I entered a prehearing order requiring the parties to confer and to discuss settlement. While in the process of conferring, but prior to engaging in substantive settlement discussions, the parties instituted discovery. In response to the Secretary's discovery efforts, JWR filed a motion for partial summary decision, arguing that, as a matter of law, it was not responsible for many of the alleged violations because it did not control the mine at the time the citations were issued.1 JWR also filed a motion to stay discovery, asserting a favorable ruling on its summary decision motion would obviate the need for discovery in many instances. I agreed, and granted JWR's latter motion. Subsequently, the Secretary filed a cross motion for partial summary decision, asserting that there was no basis for ruling in the company's favor, that JWR did not contest the factual allegations leading to the alleged violations and that the violations, therefore, existed as charged.
I denied the motions for summary decision. In so doing, I expressed my view regarding JWR's argument that the Secretary's imposition of a Section 104(k) order at the mine divested the company of its responsibility for many of the alleged violations. I stated in part, "Section 103(k) grants to the Secretary the extraordinary authority to take control of all or part of the mine away from the operator. Use of the authority can effectively place the Secretary in the shoes of the operator, and result in a disruption of the nexus between responsibility and control, a nexus that is a basis for the operator's liability" (Order Denying Cross Motions for Summary Decision 8-9). Therefore, I stated that in the forthcoming penalty proceedings I would "recognize an affirmative defense based upon the . . . imposition of the Section 103(k) order, provided the record establishe[d] in each instance that the . . . order as originally imposed or as subsequently modified and amended, deprived the company of its authority and control in the part of the mine where the cited condition existed, and that the condition would not have existed but for the presence of the order and its restrictions" (Id. 9). I also concluded the undisputed material facts did not establish that the specific conditions alleged in the citations would not have existed but for the restrictions imposed by the order and its modifications. I held that to make such determinations, I would need to hear the testimony of the inspectors regarding the scope of the order and its effect on the particular cited conditions (Id.). In addition, I also noted my disagreement with the Secretary's assertions that the material facts established JWR's liability for all of the alleged violations, and I again stated my belief that I needed to hear from the witnesses before I could resolve the many questions of liability (Order Denying Motions for Summary Decision 9-10).
Because of the large number of alleged violations, I instituted organizational requirements to facilitate resolution of the cases. In addition, I scheduled a prehearing conference of record at which the parties were directed, among other things, to identify the issues to be resolved at trial, to state an agreed upon discovery schedule, to state an agreed upon trial plan for the 17 consolidated dockets, and to announce the appointment of settlement representatives (Id. 10-13).
When the conference convened, counsel for the Secretary announced that the parties had reached an agreement to settle all of the cases. The settlement was in part "based upon . . . the language . . . of . . . [the] order denying [the] cross motions for summary judgement" (Tr. 10). Counsel for the Secretary and JWR described the broad outlines of the settlement agreement (Tr. 10-17) and stated that the agreement would be amplified and supported in a joint motion to approve the settlement.
Counsel now have filed that motion pursuant to Commission Rule 31 (29 C.F.R. § 2700.31). As they did at the conference, counsel note my recognition of "an affirmative defense based on the Secretary's imposition of the section 103(k) order, provided the record establishes in each instance that the section 103(k) order deprived the company of its authority and control" (Joint Motion To Approve Settlement and Dismiss 14, quoting Order Denying Cross Motions for Summary Decision 9). Counsel also note that JWR maintains the affirmative defense to some extent applies to all 310 citations at issue. In addition, counsel state that the Secretary has agreed to vacate 22 citations, to reclassify five citations from significant and substantial (S&S) to non-S&S and to reclassify the negligence of one citation from "low" to "none." Counsel also state that they have made additional compromises in view of "the vagaries of litigation" (Id. 14, 16-17). Moreover, in order to avoid the expense and inconvenience of litigation, JWR agrees to withdraw its contests to 222 single-penalty assessments listed in the dockets (id.12). Finally, counsel have submitted general information pertaining to the six statutory civil penalty criteria found in Section110(i) of the Act, including information regarding Respondent's size, ability to continue in business and history of previous violations.
The proposed settlement is as follows:
SE 2002-144
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7675567 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7675568 09/28/01 77.202 $ 55.00 VACATE
7675569 09/28/01 77.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7675570 09/28/01 77.502 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7675571 09/28/01 77.1104 $ 55.00 VACATE
7675572 09/28/01 77.1607cc $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677601 09/28/01 77.204 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677602 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677603 09/28/01 77.202 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677604 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677605 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677606 09/28/01 77.200 $ 55.00 VACATE
7677607 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $1,135.00 $ 705.00
SE 2002-145
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7670063 06/04/02 75.370(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7670064 06/04/02 75.370(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678422 06/04/02 75.202(a) $ 161.00 $ 80.00
7677873 06/05/02 75.364(b)(2) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677464 06/06/02 75.400 $ 317.00 $ 125.00
7677465 06/06/02 75.362(b) $ 317.00 $ 125.00
7677874 06/07/02 75.202(a) $ 224.00 $ 105.00
7677875 06/07/02 75.202(a) $ 224.00 $ 105.00
7678812 06/07/02 75.400 $ 224.00 $ 105.00
4864961 06/08/02 75.1403-5(g) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677466 06/08/02 75.380(d)(1) $ 224.00 $ 105.00
4864962 06/10/02 75.333(c)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 1,966.00 $ 1,025.00
SE 2002-148
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7678307 02/19/02 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676674 02/20/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676675 02/20/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676676 02/20/02 75.1910(j) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678308 02/20/02 75.900 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678309 02/20/02 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678310 02/20/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678311 02/20/02 75.705(1)(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676677 02/21/02 75.1403 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678312 02/21/02 75.1903(a)(2) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678313 02/21/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678314 02/21/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678315 02/21/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678316 02/21/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678317 02/21/02 75.512 $ 1,815.00 $ 900.00
7677760 02/22/02 77.205(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677761 02/22/02 77.200 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677762 02/22/02 77.400(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677763 02/23/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $4,485.00 $ 2,510.00
SE 2002-150
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677742 01/04/02 75.360(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677743 01/10/02 75.1722(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677744 01/10/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677670 01/15/02 48.7(c) $ 2,279.00 $ 1,100.00
7677671 01/15/02 48.6(b) $ 679.00 $ 300.00
7677745 01/15/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677746 01/18/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669802 01/19/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669803 01/19/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669804 01/19/02 75.1910(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669805 01/19/02 75.1909(b)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677747 01/23/02 75.1106-5(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672662 01/24/02 75.380(d)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672663 01/24/02 75.1600 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677675 01/25/02 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677676 01/25/02 77.204 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677677 01/25/02 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677678 01/25/02 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677679 01/25/02 103(k) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,893.00 $ 2,335.00
SE 2003-1
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677608 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677609 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677610 09/28/01 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018484 12/05/01 77.507 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7385798 12/06/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7386424 12/06/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7386425 12/06/01 75.807 $ 55.00 VACATE
7509385 12/06/01 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 VACATE
7530826 12/06/01 75.1909(b)(4) $ 55.00 VACATE
7530827 12/06/01 75.1403 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7530828 12/06/01 75.1909(b)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7530829 12/06/01 75.1909(a)(3)(x) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7644256 12/06/01 75.1914(a) $ 993.00 $ 457.00
7644258 12/06/01 75.321(a)(2) $ 475.00 VACATE
7647056 12/06/01 75.1203 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647057 12/06/01 75.333(h) $ 55.00 VACATE
7385799 12/07/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7385800 12/07/01 75.333(b)(4) $ 55.00 VACATE
7385801 12/07/01 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,243.00 $ 1,262.00
SE 2003-2
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7385802 12/07/01 75.1403-5(g) $ 55.00 VACATE
7509389 12/07/01 75.333(h) $ 277.00 $ 115.00
7530830 12/07/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7647058 12/07/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7676569 12/07/01 77.202 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676570 12/07/01 77.200 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676571 12/07/01 77.200 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7386426 12/08/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 55.00
7386427 12/08/01 75.333(h) $ 475.00 VACATE
7509390 12/08/01 75.333(h) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7509391 12/08/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7530831 12/08/01 75.340(a)(1)(i) $ 993.00 $ 55.00
7644259 12/08/01 75.517 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647059 12/08/01 75.1914(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647060 12/08/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7647081 12/08/01 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 VACATE
7647082 12/08/01 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 VACATE
7647085 12/08/01 75.503 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647086 12/08/01 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,885.00 $ 975.00
SE 2003-3
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7509392 12/09/01 75.1714-1(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647088 12/09/01 75.1914(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647089 12/09/01 75.1713-7(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7509393 12/10/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 55.00
7509394 12/10/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 55.00
7509395 12/10/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 55.00
7647092 12/11/01 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647093 12/11/01 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647094 12/11/01 75.904 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647095 12/11/01 75.1914(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7647097 12/11/01 75.400 $ 55.00 VACATE
7647098 12/11/01 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7509396 12/12/01 75.333(h) $ 55.00 VACATE
7509397 12/12/01 75.202(a) $ 277.00 $ 115.00
7676572 12/12/01 77.202 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676573 12/12/01 77.1110 $ 55.00 $ 210.00
7676574 12/12/01 77.205(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676575 12/12/01 77.205(e) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676576 12/12/01 77.202 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,787.00 $ 1,460.00
SE 2003-4
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677733 12/12/01 75.202(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7530833 12/13/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676578 12/13/01 50.20(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677734 12/13/01 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669961 12/15/01 77.200 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7669975 12/15/01 77.205(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669976 12/15/01 77.200 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7669977 12/15/01 77.200 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7669978 12/15/01 77.200 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669979 12/15/01 77.200 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669980 12/15/01 77.1110 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018485 12/17/01 50.20(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018486 12/17/01 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7669635 01/03/02 75.202(b) $ 760.00 $ 350.00
7677737 01/03/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677738 01/04/02 75.333(d)(3) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677739 01/04/02 75.1722(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677740 01/04/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677741 01/04/02 75.333(c)(3) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 4,270.00 $ 2,270.00
SE 2003-5
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677749 01/26/02 75.202(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677750 01/28/02 75.360(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678120 02/02/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678121 02/02/02 75.1911(a)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678122 02/02/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678123 02/02/02 75.1910(j) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677751 02/06/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677752 02/07/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677753 02/08/02 75.1911(a)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677754 02/09/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677755 02/09/02 75.1910(j) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677756 02/11/02 77.1104 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677757 02/12/02 77.1104 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677758 02/12/02 77.208(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677759 02/12/02 77.404(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678008 02/15/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678304 02/19/02 75.601-1 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678305 02/19/02 75.512 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678306 02/19/02 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,145.00 $ 1,820.00
SE 2003-6
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677764 02/23/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677765 02/25/02 77.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677766 02/25/02 77.205(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677767 02/26/02 75.202(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677768 02/27/02 77.1104 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677769 02/28/02 75.333(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677770 03/01/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678319 03/01/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678320 03/01/02 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678321 03/01/02 75.1702 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678009 03/04/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678810 03/04/02 77.505 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678811 03/04/02 77.507 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678812 03/04/02 77.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678814 03/04/02 77.516 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678015 03/04/02 77.502 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018490 03/06/02 75.360(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677772 03/07/02 75.1703 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677773 03/07/02 75.1703 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 1,465.00 $ 1,200.00
SE 2003-7
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7677774 03/08/02 77.502 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669812 03/09/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669813 03/09/02 75.807 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677776 03/12/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678501 03/13/02 50.10 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678502 03/13/02 50.12 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678504 03/13/02 75.1702 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676680 03/15/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677777 03/15/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677778 03/15/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677968 03/15/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678505 03/15/02 75.1405 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678506 03/15/02 75.603 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7678507 03/15/02 75.809 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677779 03/16/02 75.220(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677780 03/16/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677969 03/16/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677970 03/16/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677836 03/18/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
TOTAL $ 3,145.00 $ 1,820.00
SE 2003-8
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7669814 03/19/02 75.203(e)(2) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676681 03/19/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676682 03/19/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7676683 03/21/02 75.1106-5(a) $ 475.00 $ 210.00
7677781 03/21/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677782 03/21/02 75.503 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677784 03/23/02 75.1911(a)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677785 03/23/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677786 03/23/02 75.1911(a)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677981 03/23/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678171 03/23/02 75.400 $ 475.00 $ 210.00
4871231 03/25/02 75.1914(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678509 03/25/02 75.202(a) $ 760.00 $ 350.00
3018491 03/26/02 75.1403-10(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018492 03/27/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
3018493 03/27/02 75.333(b)(4) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4871232 03/27/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7676684 03/28/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677685 03/29/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 3,010.00 $ 1,805.00
SE 2003-9
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7678176 03/30/02 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677845 04/02/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677846 04/02/02 75.1403-8(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677443 04/03/02 75.1100-2(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677444 04/03/02 75.220(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677445 04/03/02 41.20 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677446 04/04/02 75.220(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677847 04/04/02 75.606 $ 557.00 $ 250.00
7677992 04/05/02 75.517 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677993 04/06/02 75.604(b) $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7677447 04/08/02 75.1100-1(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677448 04/08/02 75.360(b)(8) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677848 04/08/02 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677849 04/09/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669365 04/10/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677850 04/10/02 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677851 04/10/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677852 04/10/02 75.503 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678019 04/10/02 75.900 $ 340.00 $ 140.00
TOTAL $ 2,117.00 $ 1,410.00
SE 2003-10
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7678020 04/10/02 75.340(a)(2)(i) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678021 04/10/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678022 04/10/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678023 04/10/02 75.202(a) $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7677449 04/11/02 75.360(e) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677450 04/11/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677853 04/12/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677854 04/12/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677855 04/13/02 75.202(a) $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7677994 04/13/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677995 04/15/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678359 04/15/02 75.900-4 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4870868 04/16/02 75.1403 $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7677856 04/16/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677857 04/16/02 75.1106-3(a)(2) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677996 04/16/02 75.1906(i) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677997 04/16/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7670056 04/17/02 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7670057 04/17/02 75.400 $ 340.00 $ 140.00
TOTAL $ 2,185.00 $ 1,385.00
SE 2003-11
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7678361 04/18/02 75.601-1 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678362 04/18/02 75.902 $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7678183 04/19/02 75.512 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677998 04/23/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677999 04/24/02 75.1106-3(a)(2) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678000 04/24/02 75.340(a)(2)(i) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677452 04/25/02 75.1403-8(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677858 04/25/02 75.202(a) $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7678366 04/25/02 75.512 $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7678601 04/25/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672693 04/27/02 75.1914(a) $ 340.00 $ 140.00
7677859 04/29/02 75.904 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669372 05/01/02 75.333(h) $ 760.00 $ 350.00
7669373 05/01/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677860 05/03/02 77.502 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678194 05/03/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677861 05/04/02 75.1100-3 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677862 05/04/02 75.1100-2(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7669650 05/07/02 75.370(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 2,890.00 $ 1,680.00
SE 2003-12
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7669651 05/07/02 75.1202-1(b)(3) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672696 05/07/02 77.206(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672697 05/07/02 77.206(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672700 05/07/02 77.206(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672801 05/07/02 77.1104 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678704 05/07/02 77.202 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678705 05/07/02 77.202 $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7677863 05/08/02 77.1301(c)(11) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677864 05/09/02 75.606 $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7672803 05/10/02 75.1722(b) $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7672804 05/10/02 75.333(h) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678706 05/13/02 75.202(a) $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7677865 05/14/02 75.400 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677866 05/15/02 75.1714-2(c) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677867 05/15/02 77.1101-7(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672805 05/16/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672806 05/16/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672807 05/16/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672808 05/16/02 75.807 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 1,861.00 $ 1,225.00
SE 2003-13
Citation/
Order No. Date 30 C.F.R. Assessment Settlement
7672809 05/18/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672822 05/18/02 75.1403-7(j) $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7678418 05/18/02 75.220(a)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672810 05/20/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678707 05/22/02 75.202(a) $ 259.00 $ 100.00
7678708 05/23/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7678924 05/24/02 75.701 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672812 05/28/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7672813 05/29/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677869 05/29/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4871105 05/30/02 75.403 $ 277.00 $ 115.00
7672815 05/30/02 75.1101-10 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677870 05/30/02 75.380(d)(1) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677871 05/30/02 75.1100-2(f) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4871106 05/31/02 75.1403 $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677461 05/31/02 75.202(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
7677872 06/01/02 75.1100-1(a) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4871107 06/03/02 75.1403-8(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
4871108 06/03/02 75.1403-8(b) $ 55.00 $ 55.00
TOTAL $ 1,675.00 $ 1,195.00
After review and consideration of the pleadings, arguments and submissions in support of the settlement motion, I find the proposed settlement is reasonable and in the public interest. Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 2700.31, the motion is GRANTED, and the settlement is APPROVED.
ORDER
Respondent is ORDERED to pay a total civil penalty of $26,082.00 in satisfaction of the violations in question. Payment is to be made to MSHA within 30 days of the date of this proceeding. Also, within the same 30 days, the Secretary is ORDERED to delete the S&S findings on the five subject citations and to reclassify negligence from "low" to "none" on the specified citation. Upon receipt of full payment and modification of the citations, these proceedings are DISMISSED.
David F. Barbour
Chief Administrative Law Judge
Distribution: (Certified Mail)
Leslie John Rodriguez, Esq., Michael K. Hagan, Esq., U. S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Room 7T10, Atlanta, GA 30303
David M. Smith, Esq., Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C., 1901 Sixth Avenue N., 2400 AmSouth- Harbert Plaza, Birmingham, AL 35203
Guy W. Hensley, Esq., Jim Walter Resources, Inc., P. O. Box 133, Brookwood, AL 35444
ej
FOOTNOTES:
1 On the same day the explosions occurred, the Secretary, pursuant to Section 103(k) of the Act, issued Order No. 7676787 at the mine. Section 103(k) provides that in the event of an accident, an inspector "may issue such orders as he [or she] deems appropriate to insure the safety of any person in the . . . mine, and the operator . . . shall obtain the approval of . . . [MSHA] . . . to recover any person in such mine or to recover the coal . . . or to return the affected areas of such mine to normal." A Section 103(k) order commonly is referred to as a "control order." Order No. 7676787 was terminated on June 11, 2002.