FMSHRC Commission decision Docket WEST 2022-0334 Decided April 4, 2025 Procedural

Secretary of Labor v. CalPortland Company o/b/o Grimes Rock, Inc.

Secretary of Labor v. CalPortland Company o/b/o Grimes Rock, Inc. (FMSHRC WEST 2022-0334): Operator appeal dismissed

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Decision of the Commission
This is a decision of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the highest level of agency review, citable as Commission precedent. It may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance under 30 U.S.C. § 816; check subsequent history before relying on it. The full text below is from the official FMSHRC release.
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 Commission's own document.
Read the official release (fmshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

The Commission had granted Grimes Rock's petition for discretionary review in August 2024. CalPortland later notified the Commission that it had become the mine's operator and would appear on behalf of Grimes Rock. The Commission amended the caption to reflect that change. It then granted the operator's unopposed dismissal motion, vacated the direction for review, and dismissed the appeal.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited authority: None stated in the order
  • Outcome: The direction for review was vacated and the operator's appeal was dismissed.
  • Key point: A change in mine operator was reflected in the caption before the successor operator voluntarily ended the appeal.

Full text (FMSHRC public release)

FEDERAL
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

1331
PENNSYLVANIA AVE., N.W., SUITE 520N

WASHINGTON,
DC 20004-1710

SECRETARY
OF LABOR

MINE
SAFETY AND HEALTH    

ADMINISTRATION
(MSHA)

v.

CALPORTLAND
COMPANY o/b/o

GRIMES ROCK, INC.

Docket
No. WEST 2022-0334

BEFORE:
Jordan, Chair; Baker and Marvit, Commissioners

ORDER

BY:
THE COMMISSION

On August 22, 2024, Grimes Rock,
Inc. (“Grimes Rock”) filed a petition for discretionary review of the
above-captioned docket, which the Commission granted.

On
April 3, 2025, CalPortland Company (“CalPortland”) filed a Notice of Operator
Change informing the Commission that the facility operating under Mine ID
04-05432 is now operated by CalPortland and that moving forward the respondent
in the instant matter will list the current operator as “CalPortland on behalf
of Grimes Rock, Inc.”

In light of the operator’s submission, we
hereby amend the caption to reflect the change in operator.

On April 3, 2025, CalPortland on
behalf of Grimes Rock also filed an unopposed motion to dismiss Docket No. WEST 2022-0334 . Upon
consideration of Grimes Rock’s motion, the Commission’s direction granting review
of the above-referenced case, is hereby VACATED and the operator’s appeal is
DISMISSED.  

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Chair

/s/ Timothy J.
Baker

Timothy J. Baker,
Commissioner

/s/ Moshe Z.
Marvit

Moshe Z. Marvit,
Commissioner

Distribution:

Kenneth
H. Moss, Esq.

Pachowicz
& Goldenring PLC

6050
Seahawk Street

Ventura,
CA 93003

[email protected]

Tina
Amoke, Esq.

Pachowicz
& Goldenring PLC

6050
Seahawk Street

Ventura,
CA 93003

[email protected]

Mark
R. Pachowicz, Esq.

Pachowicz
& Goldenring PLC

6050
Seahawk Street

Ventura,
CA 93003

[email protected]

Alvaro
Saldivar

2531
Taffrail Ln.

Oxnard,
CA 93035

[email protected]

Ryan
M. Kooi, Esq.

Office
of the Solicitor, MSHA

U.S.
Department of Labor

201
12th Street South, Suite 401

Arlington,
VA 22202

[email protected]

Thomas
A. Paige, Esq.

Deputy
Associate Solicitor

US
Department of Labor

Office
of the Solicitor

Division
of Mine Safety and Health

200
Constitution Avenue NW, Suite N4428

Washington,
DC 20210

[email protected]

Melanie
Garris

US
Department of Labor/MSHA

Office
of Assessments, Room N3454

200
Constitution Ave NW

Washington,
DC 20210

[email protected]

Chief
Administrative Law Judge Glynn F. Voisin

Office
of the Chief Administrative Law Judge

Federal
Mine Safety & Health Review Commission

1331
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 520N

Washington,
DC 20004-1710

[email protected]

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