Buck Mountain Vein: 47 MSHA citations Coal
Little Buck Coal Company #2
· Underground
Controlled by
Ronald Bender; Kris Bender
MSHA Mine ID: 3609860
Buck Mountain Vein has $61K in proposed MSHA penalties and $59K outstanding across 8 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 0
- Years on record
- —
- Latest incident
- —
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2012
47
citations
21
significant & substantial
$60,665
proposed penalties
$1,822
paid to date
3% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $58,843 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2012
58
inspections on record
2,102
inspection hours
2.2
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.47 citations across 2,102 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Buck Mountain Vein has $61K in proposed MSHA penalties and $59K outstanding across 8 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.$61K
proposed penalties
$61K
current assessed
$2K
paid to date
$59K
outstanding
46 assessments are final orders; 8 contested dockets.
Of $12K in penalties contested before the Commission, $10K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-02-06.
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.45.7%
significant & substantial
23.9%
high negligence or reckless
45.7%
reasonably likely or greater
28.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 28.3% low, 47.8% moderate, 23.9% 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.
18
citations taken to the federal commission · 38% of citations on record
- Settled 6 · 33%
- Stood as issued 11 · 61%
- Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 6%
90%
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 10 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
17%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$12K proposed, $10K 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 2015-10-14.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PENN 2015-0232 | Prevail | Rae | 2017 | $8K → $8K |
| PENN 2013-258 | Withdrawal | Lesnick | 2014 | $2K → $0 |
| PENN 2013-259 | Default | Lesnick | 2013 | $1K → $1K |
| PENN 2015-0100 | Prevail | Rae | 2017 | $308 → $308 |
| PENN 2016-0010 | Default | Lesnick | 2016 | $238 → $238 |
| PENN 2016-0011 | Default | Lesnick | 2016 | $121 → $121 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Buck Mountain Vein shows 100% of 279 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: 2018-03-07, 8 years ago
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
279
samples
1.20
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.110 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 169 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- HAND LOADERS193
- LABORER28
- HOIST ENGINEER/OPERATOR24
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2016-06-03, 10 years ago3.4
silica avg (%)
2
samples
4.1
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- HAND LOADERS2
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: 2017-10-30, 8 years ago
ⓘ
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.0%
over PEL
30
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- LABORER12
- HOIST ENGINEER/OPERATOR8
- HAND LOADERS7
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 100% | 19 |
| 2017 | 100% | 41 |
| 2016 | 100% | 65 |
| 2015 | 100% | 45 |
| 2014 | 100% | 40 |
| 2013 | 100% | 48 |
| 2012 | 100% | 21 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2.7 | 1 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0% | 3 |
| 2016 | 0% | 5 |
| 2015 | 0% | 8 |
| 2013 | 0% | 5 |
| 2012 | 0% | 9 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
- Little Buck Coal Company #2 2011 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 | 3,274 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6,679 |
| 2016 | 6 | 5,357 |
| 2015 | 5 | 4,331 |
| 2014 | 6 | 5,137 |
| 2013 | 6 | 3,838 |
| 2012 | 3 | 1,439 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Buck Mountain Vein sits in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania · Population 143,259
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$66,901
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Q3 | 3,120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q2 | 3,120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q1 | 3,120 | 2 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2017 Q4 | 3,120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 3,120 | 2 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 3,120 | 2 | 1 | 641.0 |
| 2017 Q1 | 3,120 | 1 | 0 | 320.5 |
| 2016 Q4 | 2,470 | 2 | 1 | 809.7 |
Show 18 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Q3 | 2,560 | 2 | 0 | 781.2 |
| 2016 Q2 | 1,360 | 2 | 0 | 1470.6 |
| 2016 Q1 | 2,950 | 1 | 0 | 339.0 |
| 2015 Q4 | 2,598 | 1 | 0 | 384.9 |
| 2015 Q3 | 914 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 1,700 | 12 | 12 | 7058.8 |
| 2015 Q1 | 2,510 | 1 | 1 | 398.4 |
| 2014 Q4 | 3,970 | 5 | 5 | 1259.4 |
| 2014 Q3 | 1,420 | 1 | 0 | 704.2 |
| 2014 Q2 | 1,870 | 1 | 0 | 534.8 |
| 2014 Q1 | 1,375 | 2 | 0 | 1454.5 |
| 2013 Q4 | 1,890 | 1 | 0 | 529.1 |
| 2013 Q2 | 1,470 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q1 | 1,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 1,770 | 3 | 0 | 1694.9 |
| 2012 Q3 | 1,409 | 2 | 1 | 1419.4 |
| 2012 Q2 | 760 | 3 | 0 | 3947.4 |
| 2012 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No reportable incidents on file.
MSHA has no recorded reportable accidents for this mine in the current dataset. New reports appear here within a week of being filed.