Conshor Mining, LLC (Commission decision, February 15, 2012)

Plain-English summary

An ALJ certified a controlling legal question after ruling that a violation not caused by reckless conduct could not be deemed flagrant based on an operator's history of similar violations. The Commission agreed that the issue warranted immediate interlocutory review under Rule 76. It granted review limited to whether prior similar violations can support a flagrant designation under section 110(b)(2) when the current violation is not reckless. The parties were directed to file initial and response briefs on a fixed schedule, with no reply briefs.

Decision snapshot

• Governing provisions: 30 U.S.C. § 820(b)(2); 29 C.F.R. § 2700.76
• Outcome: Interlocutory review was granted on the certified flagrant-violation question.
• Key point: The Commission accepted immediate review of whether violation history alone can support a flagrant designation without reckless conduct.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

601 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, NW

SUITE 9500

WASHINGTON, DC 20001

February 15, 2012

SECRETARY OF LABOR,                                

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH                       

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)  

v.

CONSHOR MINING, LLC 

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Docket No. KENT 2008-562

Docket No. KENT 2008-782

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

ORDER

BY THE COMMISSION:

This matter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (2006). On January 19, 2012, Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman issued a Certification of Interlocutory Ruling pursuant to Commission Procedural Rule 76, 29 C.F.R. § 2700.76(a)(1)(i). In his order, the judge certified for interlocutory review by the Commission his ruling in his Order of November 28, 2011, that a violation that is not attributable to reckless conduct may not be deemed flagrant under 30 U.S.C. § 820(b)(2) based on the operator’s history of prior similar violations. Unpublished Order at 2-3 (Jan. 19, 2012).

Commission Rule 76(a) provides that interlocutory review is a matter of sound discretion of the Commission, and that the Commission may grant interlocutory review upon a determination that the judge’s interlocutory ruling involves a controlling question of law and immediate review will materially advance the final disposition of the proceeding. 29 C.F.R.

§ 2700.76(a).

Upon consideration of the judge’s certification, we hereby grant review of the judge’s order of November 28, 2011, with regard to the issue of whether a violation not deemed attributable to reckless conduct may be deemed flagrant under 30 U.S.C. § 820(b)(2) based on the operator’s history of prior similar violations. Conshor Mining, LLC and the Secretary of Labor are hereby ordered to file initial briefs on or before 30 days from the date of this order. Response briefs by both parties will be due 30 days following service of the last initial brief. Initial briefs shall not exceed 35 pages; response briefs shall not exceed 25 pages. Reply briefs will not be filed.

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman

/s/ Michael F. Duffy                                                                                         

Michael F. Duffy, Commissioner

/s/Michael G. Young

Michael G. Young, Commissioner

/s/ Robert F. Cohen, Jr.

Robert F. Cohen, Jr., Commissioner

/s/ Patrick K. Nakamura

Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner

Distribution

Jonathan R. Ellis, Esq.

Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC

Eighth Floor, Bank One Center

P.O. Box 1588

Charleston, WV 25326-1588

Jeffrey K. Phillips, Esq.

Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC

1010 Monarch Street, Suite 250

Lexington, KY 40591-0810

Christian P. Barber, Esq.

Office of the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

618 Church Street, Suite 230

Nashville, TN 37219-2456

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

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