Whayne Supply Company (ALJ decision, March 18, 1997)

Whayne Supply Company (FMSHRC KENT 94-518-R): Remand dismissal

Decision type
ALJ decision
Docket
KENT 94-518-R
Decided
March 18, 1997
Presiding judge
Outcome
Procedural
Precedential status
Checked against source
2026-08-12
Cited standards

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This ALJ decision was superseded by the Commission's decision in the same case. Ezel starts from the controlling decision and answers your situation under current law, with citations.

Currency note: this decision dates from 1997
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.
ALJ decision, later reviewed by the Commission
This decision was issued by an FMSHRC Administrative Law Judge, but it was not the final word in the case: the Commission directed review, and the Commission's decision is the one citable as precedent.
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

Whayne Supply Company contested an MSHA order. On remand, Judge Gary Melick found the proceeding moot because the Secretary had not timely sought Commission review and the earlier ALJ decision vacating the underlying order was final. The judge dismissed the case.

Decision snapshot

  • Governing provision: 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1)
  • Outcome: The remand proceeding was dismissed as moot, and the earlier ALJ decision vacating the underlying order remained final.
  • Key point: When timely Commission review is not sought, an ALJ decision vacating the underlying order becomes final.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

OFFICE OF A D M INISTRA TIV E LA W JUDGES 2 SK YLINE, 10 th FLOOR
5203 LEESBURG PIK E
FA LLS CHURCH, V IRGINIA 22041

March 18, 1997

WHAYNE SUPPLY COMPANY,
: CONTEST PROCEEDING
Contestant
:
v. : Docket No. KENT 94-518-R
: Order No. 4011758;1/25/94
SECRETARY OF LABOR,
:
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
: Job No. 17A
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),
:
Respondent
:

ORDER OF DISMISSAL ON REMAND

Before: Judge Melick

This Contest Proceeding is moot. The Secretary failed to seek timely review of this proceeding before the Commission. The decision of the administrative law judge vacating the underlying order is therefore final. Under the circumstances this case on remand is dismissed.

Gary Melick
Administrative Law Judge
703-756-6261

Distribution:

Yoora Kim, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 4015 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22203

Brian W. Dougherty, Esq., Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of Labor, 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite B-201, Nashville, TN 37215

Andrew J. Russell, Esq., Smith & Smith, 400 North, First Trust Centre, 200 South Fifth Street, Louisville, KY 40202

/jf

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