FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

601 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, NW

SUITE 9500

WASHINGTON, DC 20001



May 11, 2010



SECRETARY OF LABOR,

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),


v.

ORCHARD COAL COMPANY,

S & M COAL COMPANY,

ALFRED BROWN COAL COMPANY,

and B & B COAL COMPANY




Docket No. PENN 2010-339-E
Docket No. PENN 2010-340-E
Docket No. PENN 2010-342-E
Docket No. PENN 2010-343-E


BEFORE: Jordan, Chairman; Duffy, Young, Cohen, and Nakamura, Commissioners


ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW


BY THE COMMISSION:


            This matter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (2006) (“Mine Act”). The petition for discretionary review filed in this matter by Orchard Coal Company, S&M Coal Company, Alfred Brown Coal Company, and B&B Coal Company (hereinafter “Anthracite Operators”), Footnote states that the Mine Safety and Health Administration is enforcing Mine Act requirements in a way that has denied the Anthracite Operators the opportunity to seek modification of the requirements under section 101(c) of the Act, 30 U.S.C. § 811(c). The Anthracite Operators thus include within their petition for review a petition for relief under section 101(c).


            The Commission is without jurisdiction to entertain a petition for relief under section 101(c). The statute clearly states that such petitions are to be directed to the Secretary of Labor, and the modification process is the sole province of the Secretary or her designee. Footnote Consequently, the relief the Anthracite Operators seek under section 101(c) can only be granted by the Secretary.




            No two Commissioners having voted to grant the petition for review on the issues over which the Commission does have jurisdiction, it is denied.





                                                                                    ____________________________________

                                                                                    Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman





                                                                                    ____________________________________

                                                                                    Michael F. Duffy, Commissioner

 




                                                                                    ____________________________________

                                                                                    Michael G. Young, Commissioner





                                                                                    ____________________________________

                                                                                    Robert F. Cohen, Jr., Commissioner





                                                                                    ____________________________________

                                                                                    Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner



 


Distribution


Bradley S. Tupi, Esq.

Kenneth G. Scholtz, Esq.

Tucker Arensburg, PC

1500 One PPG Place

Pittsburgh, PA 15222


Stephen D. Turow, Esq.

Lynny Bowman Dunbar, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., 22nd Floor

Arlington, VA 22209-2296

 

W. Christian Schumann, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2220

Arlington, VA 22209-2296


Administrative Law Judge Alan Paez

Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission

Office of Administrative Law Judges

601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Suite 9500

Washington, D.C. 20001-2021


Administrative Law Judge Michael Zielinski

Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission

Office of Administrative Law Judges

601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Suite 9500

Washington, D.C. 20001-2021