Federal Agency Decisions
Workplace-safety cases from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), mine-safety cases from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), and environmental appeals from the EPA's Environmental Appeals Board, each with a plain-English summary, the standards it cites, and whether it counts as precedent. More agencies are coming.
No decisions match these filters
Try fewer or different words, check the spelling, or clear the filters to browse everything.
Secretary of Labor v. M-Class Mining, Inc. and M-Class Mining, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Labor v. M-Class Mining, Inc. (FMSHRC LAKE 2015-186-R, et al.): Personal-liability investigation given final deadline
MSHA sought $133,000 against M-Class Mining for allegedly failing to withdraw miners promptly after a ventilation-fan malfunction. The consolidated penalty and contest cases were stayed while the Secretary investigated possible personal liability under section 110(c), but the investigation remained…
Left Fork Mining Inc.
Two citations vacated and one modified
Left Fork Mining operated an inactive underground coal mine where an MSHA inspector issued three citations involving a fan warning signal, a two-way communications system, and withdrawal after ventilation stopped. Judge Jerold Feldman found that the Secretary proved the missing fan signal, but the…
Target Industries, Inc., Phillip K. Peterson, and Gregory L. Golden
Split vote leaves fan violations affirmed
Target Industries operated an underground bituminous coal mine with two surface bleeder fans serving its ventilation system. After fan stoppages and failures in daily examinations, MSHA cited Target under the main mine fan regulations and cited Phillip Peterson and Gregory Golden individually under…
Target Industries, Inc.
Multiple fan violations affirmed and penalties assessed
Target Industries operated the Target No. 1 Mine, where MSHA cited ventilation and fan conditions across six consolidated dockets. Judge David Barbour found multiple violations involving fan signals, testing, continuous operation, methane ventilation, and withdrawal of miners, and found several…
Leeco, Incorporated
Temporary reinstatement ordered
Leeco operated an underground coal mine, and Frank Scott worked there as a miner and electrician. Scott alleged that he had been required to work underground while the mine fan was off and had been asked to handle energized high-voltage cable and work on guards while belts were running. Leeco…
What these documents are
- The agencies: Workplace-safety cases from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), mine-safety cases from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), and environmental permit and penalty appeals from the EPA's Environmental Appeals Board (EAB). Each decision page names its agency.
- Commission and Board decisions: Rulings by the agency's highest review level (the Commission at OSHRC and FMSHRC, the Environmental Appeals Board at EPA). These are citable as precedent, though a decision may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance.
- ALJ decisions: Rulings by the agency's Administrative Law Judges after a hearing. When no Commissioner directs review, an ALJ decision becomes a final order that binds the parties in that case but is not binding precedent: under 29 U.S.C. § 661(j) at OSHRC, and after the 40-day window of 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1) at FMSHRC.
- Why finality matters: Every page here says which kind of decision you are reading, so you know whether it is precedent you can cite or a final order that only shows how one judge ruled on one set of facts.
- Where they come from: Every page links the official public release from the deciding agency, and the full text on the page is that release. The plain-English summaries are written by Ezel.