Ezel / Agency Decisions / CENT 86-25-M

Secretary of Labor v. St. Joe Minerals Corp. (ALJ decision, February 24, 1986)

St. Joe Minerals Corp. (FMSHRC CENT 86-25-M): $5,000 settlement approved

Decision type
ALJ decision
Docket
CENT 86-25-M
Decided
February 24, 1986
Presiding judge
James A. Broderick
Outcome
Settled
Precedential status
Final order, not precedent
Checked against source
2026-10-20
Official source
Read the official release (fmshrc.gov)
PDF
View Official PDF

Apply this to your situation

This order from 1986 bound only the parties to this case; it isn't precedent. Ask about your situation and see what the current MSHA standards and Commission precedent say, with citations.

Currency note: this decision dates from 1986
The MSHA standards may have been amended, penalty amounts have been adjusted, and later Commission or court decisions may have changed the analysis since then. Treat this page as historical context, not current compliance advice. Verify the current standard before relying on any specific rule, threshold, or penalty mentioned here.
Final ALJ decision, not Commission precedent
This settlement order became final under the 40-day rule in 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1) because no later Commission review appears in the official index. It binds the parties but is not Commission precedent. The full text below is from the official FMSHRC release.
About this page: The plain-English summary and decision snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official FMSHRC release. The full text is the agency's own release.
Read the official release (fmshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

St. Joe Minerals was charged with failing to remove loose rock from a pillar at the Viburnum No. 28 Mine. The condition resulted in a fatal accident. The parties proposed reducing the assessed penalty from $7,000 to $5,000, explaining that the company's negligence was low because it had repeatedly warned employees to avoid the area. Judge James A. Broderick accepted that explanation while finding the violation very serious. He approved the settlement and ordered payment of $5,000.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited standard: The order does not identify the specific safety standard.
  • Outcome: Settlement approved; penalty reduced from $7,000 to $5,000.
  • Key point: The judge accepted the parties' lower negligence assessment while recognizing the violation's severity.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

CCASE:
SOL (MSHA) V. ST. JOE MINERALS
DDATE:
19860224
TTEXT:
~257

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Office of Administrative Law Judges

SECRETARY OF LABOR,
CIVIL PENALTY PROCEEDING
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
Docket No. CENT 86-25-M
PETITIONER
A.C. No. 23-00494-05512

v. Viburnum No. 28 Mine

ST. JOE MINERALS CORP.,
RESPONDENT

ORDER APPROVING SETTLEMENT

Before: Judge Broderick

On February 13, 1986, Petitioner and Respondent filed a joint motion to approve a settlement agreement originally assessed at $7000 propose to settle for $5000.

The violation charged was failure to take down loose slabs of pillar which resulted in a fatal accident. The motion states that Respondent's negligence originally judged as moderate was in fact low, because the evidence shows that Respondent repeatedly advised employees to avoid the area of the mine where the accident occurred. The violation was very serious. I accept the representation in the motion and conclude that the settlement should be approved.

Accordingly, the settlement is APPROVED and Respondent is ORDERED TO PAY the sum of $5000 within 30 days of the date of this order.

James A. Broderick
Administrative Law Judge

What applies to your situation today?

This order bound one employer. Ezel checks the current MSHA standards and Commission precedent against your facts, with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Checks the law as it stands today, not only this page
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace