(Near Bishop Tazewell), Mcdowell County,
WV
·
NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 4602380
Bishop Impoundment Area has $438K in proposed MSHA penalties and $233K outstanding across 37 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
17
Years on record
1984–2025
Latest incident
Oct 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2011
491
citations
145
significant & substantial
$437,734
proposed penalties
$158,781
paid to date
36% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $278,952 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.
491 citations across 4,644 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bishop Impoundment Area has $438K in proposed MSHA penalties and $233K outstanding across 37 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.
$438K
proposed penalties
$392K
current assessed
$159K
paid to date
$233K
outstanding
445 assessments are final orders; 37 contested dockets.
Of $197K in penalties contested before the Commission, $121K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-27.
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.
190citations taken to the federal commission · 39% of citations on record
Settled
177 · 93%
Stood as issued
11 · 6%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 1%
88%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 56 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
40%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$202K proposed, $121K 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 2022-10-12.
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 Bishop Impoundment Area shows 98% of 116 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: 2026-06-10
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
116
samples
1.71
dust max (mg/m3)
2
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.
102 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 14 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.
Bishop Impoundment Area recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019.
Injury rate, 2019
ⓘ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
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.51 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
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017
1.47
1.47
1.467
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013
3.97
3.97
0.000
2012
1.41
1.41
0.000
2011 *
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.
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
38
1,245
2025
41
53,678
2024
14
7,475
2023
0
2022
16
1,141
2021
10
1,100
2020
12
150
2019
14
11,536
2018
32
15,000
2017
57
408,897
2016
11
25,000
2015
18
6,850
2014
70
79,098
2013
85
351,987
2012
64
129,618
2011
15
15,644
2010
0
2009
0
2008
0
2007
0
2006
1
2005
2
2004
1
2000
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bishop Impoundment Area sits in McDowell County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 13.0% 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.
McDowell County, West Virginia · Population 18,413
13.0%
Mining share of county employment
$29,980
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
14,641
10
6
683.0
2026 Q1
23,398
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
18,713
23
8
1229.1
2025 Q3
27,267
9
1
330.1
2025 Q2
20,938
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
18,900
8
5
423.3
2024 Q3
4,951
14
8
2827.7
2024 Q2
0
0
0
Show 72 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2023 Q3
0
0
0
2023 Q1
0
0
0
2022 Q2
0
7
6
2022 Q1
2,800
58
5
20714.3
2021 Q4
0
0
0
2021 Q3
14,604
1
0
68.5
2021 Q2
4,608
2
0
434.0
2021 Q1
260
6
0
23076.9
2020 Q4
11,067
3
0
271.1
2020 Q2
4,753
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
2,446
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
18,271
11
1
602.0
2019 Q3
8,869
23
4
2593.3
2019 Q2
5,569
2
0
359.1
2019 Q1
806
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
8,067
1
0
124.0
2018 Q1
21,360
14
5
655.4
2017 Q4
36,605
15
3
409.8
2017 Q3
29,760
14
5
470.4
2017 Q2
38,959
1
0
25.7
2017 Q1
30,966
17
8
549.0
2016 Q4
23,750
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
1,702
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
1,241
2
0
1611.6
2016 Q1
2,297
2
0
870.7
2015 Q4
3,444
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
8,192
4
0
488.3
2015 Q2
10,399
2
0
192.3
2015 Q1
10,995
1
0
91.0
2014 Q3
23,164
11
2
474.9
2014 Q2
23,374
1
0
42.8
2014 Q1
52,409
2
1
38.2
2013 Q4
38,847
21
5
540.6
2013 Q3
58,154
6
2
103.2
2013 Q2
54,417
11
6
202.1
2013 Q1
49,877
6
0
120.3
2012 Q4
27,181
4
1
147.2
2012 Q3
40,759
12
4
294.4
2012 Q2
43,324
15
7
346.2
2012 Q1
30,788
12
10
389.8
2011 Q4
38,895
5
1
128.6
2011 Q3
0
2
2
2011 Q2
0
0
0
2011 Q1
0
0
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q3
0
0
0
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
0
0
0
2009 Q3
0
0
0
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
0
0
0
2008 Q4
0
0
0
2008 Q3
0
0
0
2008 Q2
0
0
0
2008 Q1
0
0
0
2007 Q4
0
0
0
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2006 Q3
0
0
0
2006 Q2
127
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
11
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
21
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
140
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
15
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
12
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
0
0
0
2004 Q3
0
0
0
2004 Q2
6
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
6
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q1
0
0
0
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
February 27, 2017WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorFatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was last observed as employee began to ascend an extension ladder. There is no eye witness, it is apparent the employee fell approximately 20ft. onto a moving conveyor belt and was fatally injured.
EE was operating Rock Truck when EE started having trouble breathing., EE contacted the Foreman, the Foreman went and picked up EE, The Foreman called an ambulance and continued to the mine entrance to wait for the ambulance, EE stated EE had Heart problems. EE died of an apparent Heart Attack due EE's medical conditions.
2014 · 1 incident
July 14, 2014WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee and two co-workers were pulling conveyor sheets from a box and one sheet slipped, striking the employee's right hand and cutting his index finger. The employee obtained medical treatment, received stitches to his index finger, and returned to work with no restrictions on his next scheduled day, 5/1/13.
April 8, 2013WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was assisting a mechanic change a tire and when tire became dislodged, employee lost his balance. In an attempt to break his fall, he twisted and felt a pull in his lower back.
Employee states he slipped on icy ground hurting his lower back and right elbow. The injury wasn't reported to this office until 2/20/13. Employee sought medical attention on 2/20/13 for his lower back pain and was referred to an orthopedic specialist. That appt is scheduled for 3/11/13.
Employee states he was loading aluminum wire trays on a truck and felt pain in right shoulder when he pulled 2 pieces from the stack to load. Employee did not seek medical treatment until 01/21/2013, at which time the injury was then reported to this office. Employee placed on modified duty.
While using a manlift to attach plywood to spirals, employee states that he unknowingly lowered the manlift boom on the corner of the opposing spiral frame. When he swung the boom out, it dropped off the frame causing the employee to hit his rib/chest area on the rail of the manlift basket. The employee received medical treatment and was placed on modified duty.