Paul Cotton (ALJ decision, September 4, 1991)

Plain-English summary

Paul Cotton and eight other contestants challenged proposed revocations of their certifications to take respirable-dust samples. The parties agreed that the decision in Brent Roberts v. Secretary, Docket No. KENT 91-896-R, controlled the issues in these cases. Judge Paul Merlin entered dismissal orders after the Roberts complaint was dismissed. The order imposes no penalty.

Decision snapshot

• Cited statute: 30 U.S.C. § 815(d)
• Outcome: The consolidated contest proceedings were dismissed.
• Key point: The ALJ applied the agreed controlling Roberts decision and dismissed the related certification contests.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION 1730 K STREET NW, 6TH FLOOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006

September 4, 1991

   PAUL COTTON,                            :           CONTEST PROCEEDING

Contestant :
: Docket No. KENT 91-897-R
: Cassette Nos. 46268665, et al.
v. :
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Mine ID 15-14074 Martwick UG
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
:
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
:
Respondent
:
AND
:

   STEVE LITTLE,                           :           CONTEST PROCEEDING
                       Contestant          :           Docket No. KENT 91-848-R

: Cassette Nos. 46268661, et al.
v. :
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Mine ID 15-14074 Martwick UG
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
:
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
:
Respondent
:
AND

   SYDNEY POE,                              :          CONTEST PROCEEDING
                       Contestant           :          Docket No. KENT 91-992-R

v. : Decertification Letter
:
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Mine ID 15-07166 Sinclair UG #2
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
:
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
:
Respondent
:
AND

   ROBERT BENNETT,                           :         CONTEST PROCEEDING
                       Contestant            :         Docket No. LAKE 91-478-R

v. : Cassette Nos. 46267776, et al.
:
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Mine ID 11-02440 Marissa Mine
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
:
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
:
Respondent
:
AND

SHARELL CLARK,
: CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant : Docket No. WEVA 91-1331-R
v. : Cassette Nos. 46216752, et al.
:
SECRETARY OF LABOR,
: Eastern Associated Coal Corp.
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
: Mine ID 46-04332
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
: Light Foot No. 1 Mine
Respondent :
AND

JAMES F. MATICS, : CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant : Docket No. WEVA 91-1332-R
v. : Cassette Nos. 46277778, et al.
:
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Peabody Coal Company
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : Harris No. 2 Mine ID 46-01270
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), : Harris No. 1 Mine ID 46-01271
Respondent :
:
AND

ROBERT E. PERSINGER, : CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant : Docket No. WEVA 91-1333-R
v. : Cassette Nos. 46138254 et al.
:
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Montcoal No. 7
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : Mine ID 46-01495
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), :
Respondent :
AND

JIMMY HAYWORTH, : CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant : Docket No. WEVA 91-1525-R
v. : Decertification Letter 4/30/91 :
: Eastern Associated Coal Corp.
SECRETARY OF LABOR : Harris No. 1
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : Mine ID 46-01271
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), :
Respondent :
AND

REGGIE PHILYAW, : CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant : Docket No. WEVA 91-1926-R
v. : Cassette Nos. 46239627, et al.
:
: Peabody Coal Company
SECRETARY OF LABOR, : Kopperston No. 1
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH : Mine ID 46-01537
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA), :
Respondent :
DECISION

Appearances: Michael T. Heenan, Esq., Lynn M. Rausch, Esq., Smith, Heenan and Althen, Washington, D.C., for the Contestant; James Crawford, Esq., Robert C.
Snashall, Jr., Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor, Arlington, Virginia, for the Respondent.

Before: Judge Merlin

The parties have agreed that the decision in Brent Roberts v. Secretary of Labor, Docket No. KENT 91-896-R is controlling in the above-captioned cases.

A decision has been entered this day dismissing the complaint in Roberts.

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that these cases must be and are hereby DISMISSED.

Paul Merlin
Chief Administrative Law Judge

Distribution:
Michael T. Heenan, Esq., Lynn M. Rausch, Esq., Smith, Heenan and
Althen, 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC
20005 (Certified Mail)
John B. Carrico, Esq., 801 Charleston National Plaza, Charleston,
WV 25301 (Certified Mail)

Robert B. Allen, Esq., King, Betts & Allen, P. O. Box 3394,
Charleston, WV 25333 (Certified Mail)
J. Timothy Dipiero, Esq., DiTrapano & Jackson, 604 Virginia
Street East, Charleston, WV 25301 (Certified Mail)
James B. Crawford, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U. S. Department
of Labor, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203
(Certified Mail)