FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

601 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, NW

SUITE 9500

WASHINGTON, DC 20001

October 26, 2009

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

ORDER

BY THE COMMISSION:

            This proceeding arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (2006) (“Mine Act”). Previously, the Commission had rejected the interpretation the Secretary of Labor proffered on remand of the definition of “private ways and roads appurtenant” to areas of land from which minerals are extracted, as that term appears in section 3(h)(1) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. § 802(h)(1). However, in Sec’y of Labor v. National Cement Co. of California, 573 F.3d 788 (D.C. Cir. 2009), the court upheld the Secretary’s interpretation as reasonable.

            The court vacated the Commission’s decision and remanded the case to the Commission for further proceedings in accordance with the court’s opinion. 573 F.3d at 797. Accordingly, this proceeding is remanded to Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman for proceedings on the merits of the citation.

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Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman

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Michael F. Duffy, Commissioner

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Michael G. Young, Commissioner

________________________________________

Robert F. Cohen, Jr., Commissioner

Distribution:

Robin Rosenbluth, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., 22^nd Floor West

Arlington, VA 22209-2247

Margaret S. Lopez, Esq.

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash,

Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

2400 N Street NW, 5^th Floor

Washington, DC 20037

Thomas C. Means, Esq.

Crowell & Moring LLP

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20004-2595

W. Christian Schumann, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2220

Arlington, VA 22209-2296

Myra James, Chief

Office of Civil Penalty Compliance, MSHA

U.S. Dept. Of Labor

1100 Wilson Blvd., 25^th Floor

Arlington, VA 22209-3939

Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman

Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission

Office of Administrative Law Judges

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

Washington, D.C. 20001-2021