Big Creek Surface has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2013–2026
Latest incident
Apr 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
157
citations
39
significant & substantial
$78,687
proposed penalties
$43,551
paid to date
55% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $35,136 gap.
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.
157 citations across 2,604 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Big Creek Surface has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 5 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.
$79K
proposed penalties
$45K
current assessed
$44K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
153 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $56K in penalties contested before the Commission, $22K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-20.
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.
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.
5citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 80%
Stood as issued
1 · 20%
67%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
61%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$56K proposed, $22K 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 2024-06-24.
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.
MSHA sampling at Big Creek Surface shows 100% of 254 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: 2026-07-30
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
254
samples
0.69
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.
157 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 97 by the operator.
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.
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.
Big Creek Surface recorded 7.12 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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.
7.12
total case rate
7.12
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 2.97 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2025
7.12
7.12
0.000
2024
3.54
3.54
0.000
2023 *
2.26
2.26
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017 *
4.57
0.00
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
11.05
5.53
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.
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
44
49,471
2025
43
163,667
2024
43
159,052
2023
32
154,175
2022
32
102,201
2021
18
45,332
2019
0
2018
23
2017
21
2016
14
2015
22
70,746
2014
45
2013
41
2012
29
2011
20
623
2009
0
2008
0
2007
1
2006
1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Big Creek Surface sits in Tazewell County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 3.1% 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.
Tazewell County, Virginia · Population 39,933
3.1%
Mining share of county employment
$45,788
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
28,670
2
0
69.8
2026 Q1
27,747
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
25,339
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
27,837
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
29,295
1
1
34.1
2025 Q1
29,896
6
0
200.7
2024 Q4
25,379
1
0
39.4
2024 Q3
28,911
0
0
0.0
Show 55 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
30,813
1
0
32.5
2024 Q1
27,784
2
1
72.0
2023 Q4
23,992
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
21,654
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
20,958
1
0
47.7
2023 Q1
21,868
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
20,578
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
21,643
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
22,693
1
1
44.1
2022 Q1
22,407
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
19,378
2
0
103.2
2021 Q3
13,550
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
1,728
2
0
1157.4
2019 Q2
0
0
0
2019 Q1
0
0
0
2018 Q4
12,704
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
7,415
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
8,431
6
0
711.7
2018 Q1
11,228
1
0
89.1
2017 Q4
8,892
5
2
562.3
2017 Q3
12,062
1
0
82.9
2017 Q2
11,778
1
0
84.9
2017 Q1
11,066
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
6,326
3
0
474.2
2016 Q3
8,024
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
4,877
6
1
1230.3
2016 Q1
6,129
1
0
163.2
2015 Q4
8,896
3
0
337.2
2015 Q3
11,638
3
2
257.8
2015 Q2
15,662
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
0
9
3
2014 Q4
29,077
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
24,867
8
3
321.7
2014 Q2
25,431
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
24,659
4
1
162.2
2013 Q4
22,451
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
25,284
15
5
593.3
2013 Q2
23,840
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
23,331
11
3
471.5
2012 Q4
12,526
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
19,591
9
2
459.4
2012 Q2
29,050
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
21,147
5
3
236.4
2011 Q4
10,755
1
0
93.0
2011 Q3
373
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
0
1
0
2008 Q2
0
0
0
2008 Q1
0
0
0
2007 Q4
360
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
0
1
0
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
38
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
178
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
0
5
2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
16 on file
2026 · 1 incident
April 25, 2026VA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was dismounting the front-end loader using the stairs on the rear of the machine when EE fell and slid down the machine's stairs. The employee continued to work until EE sought medical evaluation on 4-28-2026 and was removed by a physician.
The employee was released by physician and returned to work on 6/9/25 from a previous injury. On 6/11/25 the employee was taken back out of work by physician when they reported continued back pain from the pre-existing injury which was preventing them from conducting normal mine work.
Employee was exiting the mine property in personal vehicle at the end of shift when employee collided with an empty coal truck that was traveling in the opposite direction on the mine haul road.
On 10/12/24 employee was outside the water truck and was in the process of entering the truck and twisted knee. Employee continued to work until employee was taken out of work by a physician on 10/23/24.
January 26, 2024VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The employee slipped when dismounting the equipment and got EE's left pinky finger and ring finger caught between a lid, resulting in a laceration and strain to EE's fingers.
2023 · 1 incident
April 29, 2023VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee stated that EE was tramming the D9 dozer when the park brake inadvertently became engaged causing EE to jolt EE's back. The employee completed shift and as EE stepped onto the mantrip, EE stated EE felt pain in lower back. The employee was taken to the ER and determined EE had a strain. The machine was inspected, and no deficiencies were found.
2017 · 1 incident
July 18, 2017VA · Coalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rish Employee was standing approximately 20' away from two other individuals whom were associated with another organization who were attempting to free the rollers on an excavator. One of the employee's associated with the other organization utilized a hammer to contact the roller and that is when a sliver of metal entered into our employees' upper torso area.
2013 · 2 incidents
April 28, 2013VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was getting off equipment to replace a grease tube on hammer. While he was exiting he slipped on track falling. He had a hold of hand rail and held on to try to stop his fall. His body weight was on one arm and he twisted around hurting rt. shoulder.
Dozer operator was widening the road in preparation for moving the Highwall miner when the cutting edge of the dozer blade contacted a low pressure polyethylene coal bed methane 8" gas line. This contact caused the cutting edge to puncture the line releasing methane. the dozer operator was the only EE in the area. He immediately contacted the foreman who accounted for all EEs.
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