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BCR Mine #1: 74 MSHA citations Coal

BC Recovery, LLC · Surface
DuQuoin, Perry County, IL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1103131

BCR Mine #1 has $15K in proposed MSHA penalties and $453 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
2
Years on record
2005–2018
Latest incident
Aug 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2004
74
citations
29
significant & substantial
$14,822
proposed penalties
$12,977
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,845 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See BC Recovery, LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2004
61
inspections on record
1,332
inspection hours
5.6
citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘ This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
74 citations across 1,332 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

BCR Mine #1 has $15K in proposed MSHA penalties and $453 outstanding across 1 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
ⓘ Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$15K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$453
outstanding
71 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $598 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-30.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
39.2%
significant & substantial
1.4%
high negligence or reckless
39.2%
reasonably likely or greater
40.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 1.4% low, 97.3% moderate, 1.4% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
ⓘ Contesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
2 citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 100%
100%
S&S designation survived the contest
ⓘ Counts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
70%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $598 after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2016-06-02.
Contested penalties
ⓘ A reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
LAKE 2016-0321 Settlement McCarthy 2016 $2K → $598
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at BCR Mine #1 shows 100% of 213 respirable coal dust samples met the 1.5 mg/m3 standard.

Health sampling
ⓘ A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Respirable coal dust
ⓘ Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.

Last sampled: 2026-06-30
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
213
samples
0.89
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
ⓘ The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
145 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 68 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR97
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER25
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR23

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2026-03-23
10.9
silica avg (%)
12
samples
20.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR6
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR6
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

Noise
ⓘ The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.

Last sampled: 2026-06-30
5%
over PEL
81
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR23
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER15
  • LABORER/BLACKSMITH9
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Health sampling trend
ⓘ A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.
Respirable coal dust by year
ⓘ Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2026 100% 7
2025 100% 5
2024 100% 24
2023 100% 19
2022 100% 1
2021 100% 25
2020 100% 28
2019 100% 21
2018 100% 9
2017 100% 13
2016 100% 15
2010 100% 11
2009 100% 7
2008 100% 6
2007 100% 7
2006 100% 9
2005 100% 4
2004 100% 2
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2026 0.4 1
2024 5.5 3
2023 14.2 2
2021 15.3 2
2020 12.5 4
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 5
2025 0% 1
2024 0% 9
2023 0% 4
2021 0% 5
2020 0% 5
2019 0% 5
2017 0% 5
2016 0% 10
2010 22% 9
2009 0% 3
2008 25% 4
2007 25% 4
2006 0% 5
2005 0% 4
2004 0% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

BCR Mine #1 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2021.

Injury rate, 2021
ⓘ This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.35 and the all-US-mining average was 2.19 cases per 100 workers.
In Illinois, coal mining averaged 6.53 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
  1. Elk Land Holdings, LLC 2004 to 2021
  2. Pittsburgh Energy LLC 2008 to 2015
  3. BC Recovery, LLC 2021 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
ⓘ Coal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.
Year Employees Coal produced (tons)
2026 4 6,360
2025 4
2024 7 56,370
2023 7 36,415
2022 2 5,176
2021 10 233,752
2020 11 224,771
2019 6 67,586
2018 7 567
2017 5
2016 6
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 2
2011 3
2010 10
2009 8
2008 4 61,379
2007 8 304,985
2006 7
2005 7
2004 5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

BCR Mine #1 sits in Perry County, Illinois, where the Census mining category is 1.9% of county employment.

Local economic context
ⓘ County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Perry County, Illinois · Population 20,810
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$59,286
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘ Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2026 Q2 1,817 3 0 1651.1
2026 Q1 1,109 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 1,023 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 842 2 0 2375.3
2025 Q2 1,274 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 3,123 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 2,947 1 0 339.3
2024 Q3 3,871 2 0 516.7
Show 79 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,847 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 3,805 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 3,042 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 3,274 5 0 1527.2
2023 Q2 2,126 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 594 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 31 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 124 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 195 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 285 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 4,974 6 0 1206.3
2021 Q3 4,595 3 0 652.9
2021 Q2 5,871 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 6,320 4 2 632.9
2020 Q4 6,380 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 6,015 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 4,428 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,083 1 0 244.9
2019 Q4 4,306 2 0 464.5
2019 Q3 4,178 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,018 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,000 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 5,447 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 5,696 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,581 2 0 558.5
2018 Q1 2,572 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 3,226 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,028 1 0 330.3
2017 Q2 2,943 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 2,055 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 2,873 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 2,941 2 1 680.0
2016 Q2 2,433 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 360 2 2 5555.6
2015 Q4 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 0 0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q4 0 0 0
2014 Q3 0 0 0
2014 Q2 0 0 0
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 0 0 0
2013 Q3 0 0 0
2013 Q2 0 0 0
2013 Q1 0 0 0
2012 Q4 573 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 971 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 1,153 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 403 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 1,116 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,333 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 1,838 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 1,519 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 6,068 1 0 164.8
2010 Q3 5,596 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,429 1 0 184.2
2010 Q1 6,009 1 0 166.4
2009 Q4 5,339 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 5,598 1 1 178.6
2009 Q2 5,118 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,885 1 1 257.4
2008 Q4 2,995 4 2 1335.6
2008 Q3 1,747 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 1,299 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 4,104 10 6 2436.6
2007 Q4 5,354 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 5,612 1 1 178.2
2007 Q2 4,677 1 1 213.8
2007 Q1 4,343 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 4,304 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,304 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 3,890 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 4,517 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,884 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,873 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 3,914 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,438 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 3,159 1 0 316.6
2004 Q3 3,005 8 6 2662.2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

2 on file

2018 · 1 incident

August 1, 2018 IL · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Elk Land Holdings, LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was attempting to hook a pump to the back of a truck. The pump rocked back and forth and the tongue fell, striking the employee's left foot. EE continued to work until EE went to the Dr. on 8-11-18. EE's first day missed was 8-13-18.

2005 · 1 incident

December 19, 2005 IL · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Elk Land Holdings, LLC · Struck by falling object

In process of repairing 10" pump, after removing most of the bolts that hold a belt guard on, employee was removing last bolt when the guard fell, striking him in the head, knocking his hard hat off and cutting his forehead, requiring 11 stitiches.