. CONTRACTORS SAND & GRAVEL, INCORPORATED August 2, 2001 WEST 2000-421-M FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION 1730 K STREET, N.W., Room 6003 WASHINGTON, D. C. 20006-3867 Telephone No.: 202-653-5454 Telecopier No.: 202-653-5030 August 2, 2001 SECRETARY OF LABOR, : CIVIL PENALTY PROCEEDINGS MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), : Docket No. WEST 2000-421-M Petitioner : A. C. No. 04-04679-05511 : : Docket No. WEST 2000-422-M : A. C. No. 04-04679-05512 : : Docket No. WEST 2000-423-M : A. C. No. 04-04679-05513 : A. C. No. 04-04679-05515 : v. : Mine: Montague Plant : : Docket No. WEST 2000-424-M : A. C. No. 04-03404-05513 : : Docket No. WEST 2000-425-M : A. C. No. 04-03404-05514 : : Docket No. WEST 2000-426-M : A. C. No. 04-03404-05515 : : Docket No. WEST 2000-427-M : A. C. No. 04-03404-05516 CONTRACTORS SAND & GRAVEL, : A. C. No. 04-03404-05517 INCORPORATED, : A. C. No. 04-03404-05519 Respondent. : A. C. No. 04-03404-05520 : : Mine: Scott River Plant DECISION APPROVING SETTLEMENT Before: Judge Barbour These cases involve seven petitions for assessment of civil penalty. They arise under section 105(d) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. §815(d)). They are before me on remand from the Commission (23 FMSHRC 570 (June 2001)), and they concern proposed penalty assessments that became final orders of the Commission either when the Respondent failed to submit a hearing request to contest the alleged violations or when the Respondent failed to answer the Secretary's petitions. Several years after most of the defaults were entered, the Respondent requested the Commission reopen the proposed assessments so it could contest them. The Commission remanded the matters and instructed me to determine whether relief from the final orders was warranted (23 FMSHRC at 577). Following the remand, the parties conferred and reached a comprehensive settlement, which the Secretary moves that I approve. I have considered the representations and documentation submitted, and I conclude that the proffered settlement is appropriate under the criteria set forth in section 110(i) of the Act. I especially note the Secretary's representations that the Respondent was a small operator and is no longer engaged in mining. The settlement amounts are as follows: WEST 2000-421-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05511 3460096 05/26/93 56.12025 $102.00 $22.00 3638714 06/08/93 56.12008 50.00 22.00 3638715 06/08/93 56.14107(a) 81.00 22.00 WEST-2000-422-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05512 3638716 06/08/93 56.14130(h) $ 50.00 $22.00 WEST 2000-423-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05513 3911910 03/12/93 56.14103 $382.00 $22.00 A.C. No. 04-04679-05515 3916592 06/07/95 56.5050 50.00 22.00 WEST 2000-424-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05513 3638707 06/07/93 56.14107(a) $ 81.00 $22.00 3638708 06/07/93 56.14107(a) 81.00 22.00 3638709 06/07/93 56.12008 102.00 22.00 3638710 06/07/93 56.14107(a) 81.00 22.00 3911923 06/07/93 50.30 90.00 22.00 WEST 2000-425-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05514 3638706 06/07/93 56.14130(h) $ 50.00 $22.00 WEST 2000-426-M Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05515 3638705 06/07/93 56.14101(a)(2) $240.00 22.00 3638713 06/07/93 56.14132(a) 50.00 22.00 3638541 08/18/93 56.141008 50.00 22.00 3638542 08/18/93 56.141008 50.00 22.00 3638544 08/18/93 56.14132(a) 50.00 22.00 WEST 2000-427-M[1] Citation/ Order No. Date 30 C.F.R Assessment Settlement A.C. No. 04-04679-05516 3638712 06/07/93 56.14101(a)(3) $ 50.00 $22.00 3638546 08/18/93 56.14101(a)(3) 50.00 22.00 3911940 08/18/93 56.14130(c) 50.00 22.00 A.C. No. 04-04679-05517 3910093 05/03/94 56.12025 $ 81.00 $22.00 3910094 05/03/94 56.12013 50.00 22.00 A.C. No. 04-04679-05519 4341197 03/05/96 56.12004 $102.00 $16.00 Total: $2,023.00 $500.00 WHEREFORE, the motion for approval of settlement is GRANTED, and it is ORDERED that within 30 days of this order, the Respondent pay a penalty of $500.00 as specified above. In addition, within the same 30 days, the Respondent is ORDERED to pay a penalty of $50.00 for the violation of 56.12028, alleged in Citation No. 4341113 (Docket No. WEST 20000-427-M (A. C. No. 04-03404-05520)).[2] Upon receipt of payment, this matter is DISMISSED. David F. Barbour Chief Administrative Law Judge Distribution: W. Christian Schumann, Esquire, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203 Eric Schoonmaker, Contractor's Sand & Gravel Supply, Inc., P. O. Box 956, Yreka, CA 96097 Jack Powasnik, Esquire, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22203 /wd **FOOTNOTES** [1]: Docket No. WEST 2000-427-M, originally contained Citation No. 4241113, which was issued on June 25, 1997 and which alleged a violation of 30 C.F.R. §56.12028. The Commission declined to remand the proposed assessment of $50.00 for this alleged violation and the proposed assessment became a final order. During the settlement negotiations, the Respondent recognized the finality of the order and agreed to pay the penalty in full. [2]: Payment may be sent to: MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, PAYMENT OFFICE, P. O. BOX 360250M, PITTSBURGH, PA 15251.