Dynatec Mining Corporation (Commission decision, January 6, 2011)

Plain-English summary

A Chief Administrative Law Judge entered default judgment after concluding that Dynatec had not answered the Secretary's penalty petition or a later show-cause order. Dynatec told the Commission that it had timely filed both an answer to the petition and a response explaining that earlier filing. The Secretary did not oppose review or dispute those assertions. The Commission granted the timely petition for review, vacated the default in the interest of justice, and remanded the case for further proceedings.

Decision snapshot

• Governing provisions: 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(2) and 29 C.F.R. §§ 2700.69(b) and 2700.70(a)
• Outcome: The default order was vacated and the penalty case was remanded.
• Key point: A default should not stand when the undisputed record shows that the operator timely filed the required responses.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

601 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, NW

SUITE 9500

WASHINGTON, DC 20001

January 6, 2011

SECRETARY OF LABOR,

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA)

v.

DYNATEC MINING CORPORATION

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

Docket No. WEST 2009-434-M

A.C. No. 42-02426-172386 WJ6

BEFORE: Jordan, Chairman; Duffy, Young, Cohen, and Nakamura, Commissioners

DIRECTION FOR REVIEW AND ORDER

BY THE COMMISSION:

This matter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (2006) (“Mine Act”). On December 23, 2008, the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) issued Proposed Assessment No. 000172386 to Dynatec Mining Corp. (“Dynatec”). On March 9, 2009, after Dynatec had timely contested the proposed penalty, the Secretary of Labor (“Secretary”) filed a petition for assessment of civil penalty with the Commission regarding the contested penalty. On August 17, 2010, Chief Administrative Law Judge Robert Lesnick issued an Order to Show Cause to Dynatec for failure to file an answer to the Secretary’s petition. On December 2, 2010, the judge issued an Order of Default entering judgement for the Secretary and directing Dynatec to pay the proposed civil penalty immediately. On December 14, 2010, the Commission received a petition for discretionary review from Dynatec, requesting that the Commission issue an order directing review and vacating the default order.

In support of its petition, Dynatec states that on April 10, 2009, it timely filed its answer to the petition. Dynatec further states that it filed an answer to the show cause order on September 22, 2010, explaining that it had previously filed an answer to the Secretary’s petition. On December 15, 2010, the Commission received a letter from the Secretary stating that she does not oppose Dynatec’s petition for discretionary review. The Secretary did not dispute any of Dynatec’s assertions.

The Chief Judge’s jurisdiction over this case terminated when he issued his default order on December 2, 2010. 29 C.F.R. § 2700.69(b). Relief from a judge’s decision may be sought by filing a petition for discretionary review within 30 days of its issuance. 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(2); 29 C.F.R. § 2700.70(a). We conclude that Dynatec’s petition for discretionary review was timely filed, and we hereby grant it.

Upon review of the record, in the interest of justice, we hereby vacate the Order of Default and remand this matter to the Chief Judge for further appropriate proceedings. See REB Enterprises, Inc., 18 FMSHRC 311 (Mar. 1996).

Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman

Michael F. Duffy, Commissioner

Michael G. Young, Commissioner

Robert F. Cohen, Jr., Commissioner

Patrick K. Nakamura, Commissioner

Distribution:

C. Gregory Ruffennach, Esq.,

for Dynatec Mining Corporation

1629 K Street, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20036

e-mail: [email protected]

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

601 New Jersey Avenue, N. W., Suite 9500

Washington, D.C. 20001-2021