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Black Wolf Washer/Loadout: 56 MSHA citations Coal

XMV, Inc. · Facility
Controlled by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
Thorpe, Mcdowell County, WV  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4607208

Black Wolf Washer/Loadout has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
6
Years on record
1987–2006
Latest incident
May 2006
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
56
citations
22
significant & substantial
$7,589
proposed penalties
$7,350
paid to date
97% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $239 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See XMV, Inc.'s full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
48
inspections on record
518
inspection hours
n/a
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.
Rate withheld: 518 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Black Wolf Washer/Loadout has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$8K
proposed penalties
$7K
current assessed
$7K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
54 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $601 in penalties contested before the Commission, $362 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-05-25.
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.
40.7%
significant & substantial
13.0%
high negligence or reckless
40.7%
reasonably likely or greater
29.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 7.4% low, 79.6% moderate, 13.0% 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.
1 citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
40%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$601 proposed, $362 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 2010-08-05.
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
WEVA 2010-1468 Settlement Harner 2012 $601 → $362
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Black Wolf Washer/Loadout shows 100% of 15 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: 2008-07-31, 18 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
15
samples
0.96
dust max (mg/m3)
15 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER10
  • WEIGHMAN3
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR1

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2003-09-15, 22 years ago
1.4
silica avg (%)
3
samples
1.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER3
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: 2005-12-21, 20 years ago
22%
over PEL
9
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER7
  • WEIGHMAN2
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
2008 100% 3
2005 100% 2
2003 100% 2
2002 100% 2
2001 100% 4
2000 100% 2
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2003 1.5 1
2001 1.4 2
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2005 0% 2
2003 0% 2
2001 50% 4
2000 0% 1
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
  1. Benefactors Inc 1986 to 2000
  2. Island Fork Construction Ltd 2000 to 2002
  3. XRC, Inc. 2002 to 2002
  4. XMV, Inc. 2002 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 1
2013 1
2012 1
2011 1
2010 1
2009 1
2008 1
2007 1
2006 1
2005 1
2004 1
2003 4
2002 1
2001 1
2000 1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Black Wolf Washer/Loadout 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 0 0 0
2026 Q1 0 0 0
2025 Q4 0 0 0
2025 Q3 0 0 0
2025 Q2 0 0 0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 0 0 0
2024 Q3 0 0 0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 0 0 0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 0 0 0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 0 0 0
2021 Q3 0 0 0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 0 0
2020 Q1 0 0 0
2019 Q4 0 0 0
2019 Q3 0 0 0
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 0 0 0
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 0 0 0
2015 Q3 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 0 0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q4 0 0 0
2014 Q3 638 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 646 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 640 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 681 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 655 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 639 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 738 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 616 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 643 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 626 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 690 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 682 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 743 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 648 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 709 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 679 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 657 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 607 1 1 1647.4
2010 Q1 660 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 606 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 646 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 585 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 650 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 528 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 707 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 648 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 311 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 658 2 2 3039.5
2007 Q3 658 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 659 3 1 4552.4
2007 Q1 172 2 1 11627.9
2006 Q4 603 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 474 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 704 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 553 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 658 2 0 3039.5
2005 Q3 547 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 722 4 2 5540.2
2005 Q1 542 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 756 9 3 11904.8
2004 Q3 592 3 1 5067.6
2004 Q2 641 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 584 1 0 1712.3
2003 Q4 5,274 2 1 379.2
2003 Q3 510 2 1 3921.6
2003 Q2 572 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 487 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 25 3 1 120000.0
2002 Q3 514 2 1 3891.1
2002 Q2 520 2 0 3846.2
2002 Q1 554 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 601 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 707 2 1 2828.9
2001 Q2 601 5 2 8319.5
2001 Q1 431 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 0 5 1
2000 Q3 91 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 319 4 2 12539.2
2000 Q1 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

6 on file

2006 · 1 incident

May 12, 2006 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
XMV, Inc. · Fall from machine

Employee was getting on a front end loader, when he stepped on the first step, he slipped and fell. Employee stated that he injured his hip.

2001 · 1 incident

February 20, 2001 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Island Fork Construction Ltd · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

GETTING UP ON BELT AND TWISTED HIS LEFT KNEE.

1995 · 1 incident

August 8, 1995 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Benefactors Inc · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS USING HAMMER AND CHISEL WHEN A PIECE OF METAL FLEW BACK AND STRUCK EMPLOYEE IN THE LEG.

1989 · 1 incident

February 25, 1989 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Benefactors Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WAS TIGHTENING BRAKE UP ON RAILROAD CAR.HAND SLIPPED OFF WHEEL CAUSING PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

1987 · 2 incidents

September 21, 1987 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver ELECTRICAL
Benefactors Inc · Contact with electrical current

WORKING ON TRUCK -RAISED BED OF TRUCK INTO 1 PHASE OF ENERGIZED 12,470 VOLT AC POWER LINE.I.NAME SUBCONTRACTED BY R & R TRUCKING.

June 9, 1987 WV · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Benefactors Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

I,NAME WAS CLEA3ING ROCKS FROM AROUND SCREEN WHEN HE LIFTED ONE CAUSING A HERNIA.