FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 520N
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004-1710
November 15, 2012
SECRETARY OF LABOR, MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)
v.
RIVERTON INVESTMENT CORPORATION |
: : : : : : : : : |
Docket No. VA 2012-234-M A.C. No. 44-00101-229221
Docket No. VA 2012-235-M A.C. No. 44-00101-232377 |
BEFORE: Jordan, Chairman; Young and Nakamura, Commissioners
ORDER
BY THE COMMISSION:
These matters arise under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C.
§ 801 et seq. (2006) (“Mine Act”). On February 10, 2012, the Commission received from
Riverton Investment Corporation (“Riverton”) two motions seeking to reopen two penalty
assessments that had become final orders of the Commission pursuant to section 105(a) of the
Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. § 815(a).
Under section 105(a) of the Mine Act, an operator who wishes to contest a proposed penalty must notify the Secretary of Labor no later than 30 days after receiving the proposed penalty assessment. If the operator fails to notify the Secretary, the proposed penalty assessment is deemed a final order of the Commission. 30 U.S.C. § 815(a).
We have held, however, that in appropriate circumstances, we possess jurisdiction to reopen uncontested assessments that have become final Commission orders under section 105(a). Jim Walter Res., Inc., 15 FMSHRC 782, 786-89 (May 1993) (“JWR”). In evaluating requests to reopen final section 105(a) orders, the Commission has found guidance in Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure under which, for example, a party could be entitled to relief from a final order of the Commission on the basis of mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect. See 29 C.F.R. § 2700.1(b) (“the Commission and its Judges shall be guided so far as practicable by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”); JWR, 15 FMSHRC at 787. We have also observed that default is a harsh remedy and that, if the defaulting party can make a showing of good cause for a failure to timely respond, the case may be reopened and appropriate proceedings on the merits permitted. See Coal Prep. Servs., Inc., 17 FMSHRC 1529, 1530 (Sept. 1995).
The record indicates that proposed assessment No. 000229221 was delivered on August 24, 2010, signed for by D. Snider, and became a final order of the Commission on September 23, 2010. Proposed assessment No. 000232377 was delivered on September 15, 2010, signed for by D. Snider, and became a final order of the Commission on October 15, 2010. Both notices of delinquency were mailed on February 15, 2011, and the cases were referred to the U.S. Department of Treasury for collection on April 14, 2011.
Under Rule 60(b), a motion shall be made within a reasonable time, and for reasons of mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect under subsections (1), (2), and (3) of the rule, not more than one year after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or taken. Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). These motions to reopen were filed more than one year after becoming final orders. Therefore, Riverton’s motions are untimely. J S Sand & Gravel, Inc., 26 FMSHRC 795, 796 (Oct. 2004).
Accordingly, we deny its motions with prejudice.
/s/ Mary Lu Jordan
Mary Lu Jordan, Chair
/s/Michael G. Young
Michael G. Young, Commissioner
/s/ Patrick K. Nakamura
Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner
Distribution:
Danny Lowe, CMSP
Riverton Investment Corp.
1826 South Queen St.
Martinsburg, WV 25402
W. Christian Schumann, Esq.
Office of the Solicitor
U.S. Department of Labor
1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2220
Arlington, VA 22209-2296
Melanie Garris
Office of Civil Penalty Compliance
MSHA
U.S. Dept. of Labor
1100 Wilson Blvd., 25th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939
Chief Administrative Law Judge Robert J. Lesnick
Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Suite 520N
Washington, D.C. 20004