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Cobra No 1: 58 MSHA citations Coal

Cobra Mining Inc · Surface
Controlled by Jason A Kitzmiller
Barton, Allegany County, MD  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1800529

Cobra No 1 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
2
Years on record
2004–2021
Latest incident
Nov 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
58
citations
21
significant & substantial
$7,783
proposed penalties
$7,741
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $42 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Cobra Mining Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
96
inspections on record
1,837
inspection hours
3.2
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.
58 citations across 1,837 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Cobra No 1 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
$8K
current assessed
$8K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
57 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $542 in penalties contested before the Commission, $500 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-14.
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.
36.8%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
36.8%
reasonably likely or greater
14.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 35.1% low, 64.9% moderate, 0.0% 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.
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%
8%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$542 proposed, $500 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 2007-07-31.
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
YORK 2007-88 Settlement Lesnick 2008 $542 → $500
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Cobra No 1 shows 100% of 267 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: 2026-07-13
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
267
samples
1.36
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.
189 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 78 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR85
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE45
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR38

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2026-05-12
14.1
silica avg (%)
12
samples
41.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR11
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE1
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: 2025-10-15
3%
over PEL
125
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE35
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR24
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR20
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% 18
2024 100% 18
2023 100% 13
2022 100% 10
2021 100% 11
2020 100% 10
2019 100% 15
2018 100% 18
2017 100% 14
2016 100% 13
2015 100% 17
2014 100% 9
2013 100% 12
2012 100% 8
2011 100% 4
2010 100% 5
2009 100% 7
2008 100% 4
2007 100% 6
2006 100% 4
2005 100% 6
2004 100% 10
2003 100% 7
2002 100% 8
2001 100% 9
2000 100% 4
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2026 3.0 1
2025 5.3 2
2024 2.0 3
2022 40.8 1
2021 2.2 1
2020 8.9 2
2019 38.3 1
2001 41.4 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2025 0% 8
2024 0% 5
2023 0% 4
2022 11% 9
2021 0% 5
2020 0% 5
2019 0% 14
2018 0% 10
2017 0% 4
2016 0% 5
2015 0% 9
2014 0% 3
2013 20% 5
2012 0% 8
2010 0% 6
2009 0% 2
2007 0% 4
2006 0% 2
2005 0% 3
2004 0% 3
2003 33% 3
2002 0% 4
2001 50% 2
2000 0% 2
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Cobra No 1 recorded 0.00 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.
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 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Maryland, coal mining averaged 2.79 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
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 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. Eckhart Coal Company 1974 to 1994
  2. Cobra Mining Inc 1994 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 15 42,681
2025 16 108,336
2024 16 134,474
2023 10 46,192
2022 9 41,594
2021 9 40,529
2020 9 25,804
2019 9 28,698
2018 10 31,122
2017 9 26,892
2016 10 31,880
2015 9 25,958
2014 8 25,386
2013 8 25,230
2012 8 24,640
2011 7 19,567
2010 6 20,268
2009 4 15,474
2008 6 17,547
2007 6 16,221
2006 6 21,081
2005 7 19,878
2004 7 24,041
2003 4 15,442
2002 4 23,130
2001 4 30,284
2000 2 9,262
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Cobra No 1 sits in Allegany County, Maryland, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Allegany County, Maryland · Population 67,762
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$57,393
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 9,661 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 7,867 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 8,051 1 0 124.2
2025 Q3 8,997 1 0 111.1
2025 Q2 10,069 1 0 99.3
2025 Q1 9,390 2 1 213.0
2024 Q4 9,129 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 9,311 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 9,210 4 0 434.3
2024 Q1 10,484 3 0 286.2
2023 Q4 7,493 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 3,563 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 3,023 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 4,838 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 4,482 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 5,360 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 4,765 2 0 419.7
2022 Q1 4,539 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 4,886 1 1 204.7
2021 Q3 4,642 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 3,502 1 0 285.6
2021 Q1 2,967 1 1 337.0
2020 Q4 3,019 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 2,288 2 2 874.1
2020 Q2 4,116 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,399 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 4,252 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 4,765 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 4,195 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 4,526 1 1 220.9
2018 Q4 4,515 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 5,262 1 1 190.0
2018 Q2 5,033 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 3,985 1 1 250.9
2017 Q4 3,760 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 4,517 2 1 442.8
2017 Q2 4,715 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,621 1 0 216.4
2016 Q4 4,731 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,639 1 1 177.3
2016 Q2 5,076 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 4,518 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 5,025 1 1 199.0
2015 Q3 4,652 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 4,926 1 0 203.0
2015 Q1 4,220 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 3,919 1 0 255.2
2014 Q3 4,115 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 4,312 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,215 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 4,250 1 1 235.3
2013 Q3 4,129 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 4,258 4 2 939.4
2013 Q1 4,264 1 1 234.5
2012 Q4 4,185 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 3,777 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 3,632 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 3,640 1 0 274.7
2011 Q4 3,920 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 4,360 3 0 688.1
2011 Q2 3,360 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 3,072 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 3,168 1 0 315.7
2010 Q3 3,168 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,120 2 0 641.0
2010 Q1 2,760 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 2,080 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 1,800 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 2,080 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,072 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,120 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 2,600 3 1 1153.8
2008 Q2 3,240 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,000 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,120 1 1 320.5
2007 Q3 3,120 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 3,120 2 2 641.0
2007 Q1 3,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 3,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 3,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,600 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,640 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,696 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 3,640 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,640 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 3,360 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,120 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 2,320 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,072 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 1,680 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 1,440 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,960 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 1,760 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 2,000 2 1 1000.0
2002 Q3 1,640 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 1,760 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 1,800 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 2,670 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 2,440 3 0 1229.5
2001 Q2 1,920 1 0 520.8
2001 Q1 1,560 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 1,440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 80 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 400 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 1,600 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

2 on file

2021 · 1 incident

November 2, 2021 MD · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Cobra Mining Inc · Struck by falling object

Mechanic was working on a motor in a CAT 777 rock truck when the hood fell on EE.

2004 · 1 incident

July 21, 2004 MD · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management POWERED HAULAGE
Cobra Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Attempting to place a water tank into the back of the Mack truck, the truck shifted causing operator to get caught in between the truck and the water tank.