Secretary of Labor v. Rex Coal Company, Inc. (Commission decision, June 22, 2015)

Plain-English summary

Rex Coal received a proposed penalty assessment on March 15, 2014, but did not contest it within the required 30 days. The assessment became a final Commission order on April 14, 2014. Rex said a clerical error caused its contest to be filed two days late, and the Secretary did not oppose reopening while urging better filing controls. The Commission reopened the assessment in the interest of justice and remanded the case for proceedings on the merits. It directed the Secretary to file a penalty petition within 45 days.

Decision snapshot

• Governing provision: 30 U.S.C. § 815(a)
• Outcome: The final assessment was reopened and the case was remanded to the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
• Key point: A brief filing delay caused by a clerical error may justify reopening when the Secretary does not oppose relief, although operators remain responsible for reliable contest procedures.

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.

REX COAL COMPANY, INC.

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Docket No.

A.C. No.

KENT 2014-490

15-19260-345221

BEFORE:  Jordan, Chairman; Young, Nakamura and Althen, Commissioners1

ORDER

BY
THE COMMISSION:

This matter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C.    § 801 et seq. (2012) (“Mine Act”). On May 12, 2014, the Commission received from Rex Coal Company Inc. (“Rex”) a motion seeking to reopen a penalty assessment that had become a final order of the Commission pursuant to section 105(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. § 815(a).

Under section 105(a) of the Mine Act, an operator who wishes to contest a proposed penalty must notify the Secretary of Labor no later than 30 days after receiving the proposed penalty assessment. If the operator fails to notify the Secretary, the proposed penalty assessment is deemed a final order of the Commission. 30 U.S.C. § 815(a).

We have held, however, that in appropriate circumstances, we possess jurisdiction to reopen uncontested assessments that have become final Commission orders under section 105(a). Jim Walter Res., Inc., 15 FMSHRC 782, 786-89 (May 1993) (“JWR”). In evaluating requests to reopen final orders, the Commission has found guidance in Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, under which the Commission may relieve a party from a final order of the Commission on the basis of mistake, inadvertence, excusable neglect, or other reason justifying relief. See 29 C.F.R. § 2700.1(b) (“the Commission and its Judges shall be guided so far as practicable by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”); JWR, 15 FMSHRC at 787. We have also observed that default is a harsh remedy and that, if the defaulting party can make a showing of good cause for a failure to timely respond, the case may be reopened and appropriate proceedings on the merits permitted. See Coal Prep. Servs., Inc., 17 FMSHRC 1529, 1530 (Sept. 1995).

Records of the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) indicate that the proposed assessment was delivered on March 15, 2014, and became a final order of the Commission on April 14, 2014. Rex asserts that it was two days late in contesting the proposed assessment due to a clerical error. The Secretary does not oppose the request to reopen, but urges the operator to take steps to ensure that future penalty contests are timely filed.

Having reviewed
Rex’s request and the Secretary’s response, in the interest of justice, we hereby reopen this matter and remand it to the Chief Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings pursuant to the Mine Act and the Commission’s Procedural Rules, 29 C.F.R. Part 2700. Accordingly, consistent with Rule 28, the Secretary shall file a petition for assessment of penalty within 45 days of the date of this order. See 29 C.F.R. § 2700.28.

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman

/s/ Michael G. Young

Michael G. Young, Commissioner

/s/ Patrick K.
Nakamura

Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner

/s/ William I.
Althen

William I. Althen, Commissioner

1 Commissioner Cohen has elected not to participate in this matter.