Secretary of Labor v. Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. (Commission decision, October 19, 2017)

Plain-English summary

MSHA challenged an administrative law judge's decision to remove significant-and-substantial designations from a citation under 30 C.F.R. § 77.1001 and an order under 30 C.F.R. § 77.1713(a). The Commission divided evenly on whether substantial evidence supported the judge. Acting Chairman William I. Althen and Commissioner Michael G. Young voted to affirm, while Commissioners Mary Lu Jordan and Robert F. Cohen, Jr. voted to reverse. Because of the tie, the judge's decision remained in place as if affirmed.

Decision snapshot

• Cited standards: 30 C.F.R. §§ 77.1001 and 77.1713(a)
• Outcome: The judge's removal of the significant-and-substantial designations stood as if affirmed.
• Key point: An evenly divided Commission leaves the administrative law judge's decision in effect.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND
HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE
520N

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20004-1710

SECRETARY
OF LABOR,                               :

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH                     :

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)                        :     

:

v.
                                                 :          Docket Nos.  KENT 2012-749

:                                KENT 2012-904

:                                KENT 2012-1085                                                                                             
:

NALLY
& HAMILTON ENTERPRISES,        :

INC.                                                                   :

BEFORE: 
Althen, Acting Chairman; Jordan, Young, and Cohen, Commissioners

DECISION

BY
THE COMMISSION:

These
proceedings arise under the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et. seq. (2012) for violations of 30 C.F.R § 77.1001 and 30 C.F.R. § 77.1713(a).  At issue is whether substantial evidence supports determinations made by the Judge in overturning “significant and substantial” (“S&S”) designations accompanying a citation and order issued to Nally & Hamilton Enterprises, Inc. by the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Acting
Chairman Althen and Commissioner Young vote to affirm the Judge’s decision, while Commissioner Jordan and Commissioner Cohen vote to reverse the Judge’s decision.  The effect of the split decision is to allow the Judge's decision to stand as if affirmed.  Pennsylvania Elec. Co. , 12 FMSHRC 1562 (Aug. 1990), aff’d on other grounds , 969 F.2d 1501 (3d Cir. 1992).

/s/ William I.
Althen

William I. Althen, Acting Chairman

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Commissioner

/s/ Michael G.
Young

Michael G.
Young, Commissioner

/s/ Robert F.
Cohen, Jr.

Robert F. Cohen,
Jr., Commissioner