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.

14,272 decisions and counting · Latest decision August 26, 2026
5 decisions 30 C.F.R. § 75.370(a)

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ALJ

Prairie State Generating Company, LLC

Initial roof and ventilation plan citations affirmed

Prairie State began operating the new Lively Grove underground coal mine without approved roof control and ventilation plans by agreement with MSHA so it could contest the agency's proposed provisions. The operator sought 40-foot cuts, wider entries and intersections, lower air quantities, and…

May 21, 2010 ·Margaret A. Miller ·FMSHRC
Citations affirmed
ALJ

Mach Mining, LLC

Ventilation plan citations affirmed

Mach Mining operated its underground coal mine under a high-volume push-pull ventilation system and challenged two citations issued after MSHA refused to approve its proposed general and panel-specific plans. Judge Margaret A. Miller found that the operator and MSHA had adequately consulted in good…

January 28, 2010 ·Margaret A. Miller ·FMSHRC
Citations affirmed
ALJ

Lone Mountain Processing, Inc.

Dust-related ventilation citations upheld, one citation dismissed

Lone Mountain Processing operated the Darby Fork No. 1 underground coal mine. The Judge dismissed Citation No. 4074103 after the Secretary withdrew it, but found that dust in two roadway areas showed the mine's ventilation plan was not followed under 30 C.F.R. § 75.370(a). The Judge credited the…

April 13, 1998 ·Avram Weisberger ·FMSHRC
Mixed result
ALJ

Harlan Cumberland Coal Co.

$10,340 penalty assessed

Harlan Cumberland Coal Company operated the C-2 and H-1 underground coal mines in Kentucky. Judge Avram Weisberger evaluated consolidated violations involving roof and rib control, electrical equipment, ventilation, methane, and compliance with an approved plan. He dismissed two citations…

August 23, 1996 ·Avram Weisberger ·FMSHRC
Modified
ALJ

Gemini Mining Company

Settlement approved with one citation vacated

Gemini Mining Company faced nine alleged violations at its Wilkem No. 1 Mine across three consolidated proceedings. The company did not appear at the hearing, but the Judge accepted its explanation and considered the parties' settlement. The settlement required $6,000 in total payments, vacated one…

May 5, 1995 ·George A. Koutras ·FMSHRC
Mixed result

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.