Secretary of Labor v. Con-Agg, Inc. (Commission decision, March 10, 2014)
Secretary of Labor v. Con-Agg, Inc. (FMSHRC LAKE 2013-415-M): Missing contest reopened
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This is citable Commission precedent from 2014, and it may have been appealed since. Ezel checks how it stands today and answers your situation, with citations.
Plain-English summary
Con-Agg said it mailed a timely contest of a proposed penalty assessment on February 4, 2013. MSHA received a contest from the operator on that date, but it concerned a different case, and the assessment at issue became final. The Secretary did not oppose reopening but urged the operator to improve its filing procedures. The Commission reopened the assessment in the interest of justice, remanded the matter, and directed the Secretary to file a penalty petition within 45 days.
Decision snapshot
- Governing provisions: 30 U.S.C. § 815(a) and 29 C.F.R. § 2700.28
- Outcome: The final assessment was reopened and remanded for a penalty petition within 45 days.
- Key point: A claimed timely filing that MSHA could not match to the case supported unopposed reopening, with a warning to strengthen contest controls.
Full text (FMSHRC public release)
������������������ FEDERAL MINE
SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
1331
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 520N
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20004-1710
March
10, 2014
SECRETARY OF LABOR,
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)
���������������������� v.
CON-AGG, INC.
������ Docket No. LAKE 2013-415-M
������ A.C. No. 20-02951-311269
BEFORE: Jordan, Chairman; Young, Cohen, Nakamura, and
Althen, 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. (2012) (�Mine Act�). On April 17, 2013, the Commission received from Con-Agg, Inc. (�Con-Agg�) 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 January 17, 2013, and became a final order of the Commission on February 19, 2013. MSHA mailed a delinquency notice on April 3, 2013. Con-Agg asserts that it mailed a timely contest on February 4, 2013. The Secretary does not oppose the request to reopen, but states that the only contest MSHA received from the operator on that date was for another case. The Secretary urges the operator to take steps to ensure that future penalty contests are timely filed.
����������� Having reviewed
Con-Agg�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/ Robert F. Cohen, Jr.��������������� �
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Robert F. Cohen, Jr., Commissioner
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� /s/ Patrick K. Nakamura���������������� ���������������������������������������� ����������������������������������� �����������������������
Patrick K.
Nakamura, Commissioner
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� /s/ William I. Althen������������������ �
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� William I. Althen, Commissioner
Distribution:
Kenneth W. Norris, President
Con-Agg, Inc.
4576 S. Mackiac Trail
Saulte Ste.Marie, MI 49783
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
Chief Administrative Law Judge Robert J. Lesnick
Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Suite 520N
Washington, D.C. 20004-1710
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