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Cowboy Mining Co: 161 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

PDSCo INC · Surface
Controlled by Rob Newsom
Study Butte, Brewster County, TX  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4103922

Cowboy Mining Co has $47K in proposed MSHA penalties and $314 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
3
Years on record
2008–2011
Latest incident
Oct 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
161
citations
53
significant & substantial
$46,693
proposed penalties
$46,379
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $314 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See PDSCo INC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
73
inspections on record
947
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: 947 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘ A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-10-25.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Cowboy Mining Co has $47K in proposed MSHA penalties and $314 outstanding across 0 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.
$47K
proposed penalties
$47K
current assessed
$46K
paid to date
$314
outstanding
156 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-08-13.
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.
33.1%
significant & substantial
6.2%
high negligence or reckless
33.1%
reasonably likely or greater
58.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 3.1% low, 90.6% moderate, 6.2% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘ Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2022-07-06, 4 years ago
19%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
45
samples
26
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz275 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg18
Show the individual readings (45)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2015-08-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.28 0.84 1.52 Bagging Operator
2011-04-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.9 0.55 1.64 Bagging Operator
2011-04-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.37 0.49 2.80 Bagging Operator
2008-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.12 0.55 2.04 Bagging Operator
2008-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.44 0.93 1.55 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2022-07-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.71 0.30 Bagging Operator
2022-07-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.3 0.64 0.47 Bagging Operator
2022-07-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 Bagging Operator
2021-02-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.59 0.65 0.91 Bagging Operator
2021-02-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.44 0.49 0.90 Bagging Operator
2021-02-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.83 0.45 Forklift Operator
2021-02-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 0.6 0.38 Mechanic
2021-02-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2018-01-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-01-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 0.55 0.31 Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-01-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.56 0.34 Bagging Operator
2018-01-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.5 0.38 Forklift Operator
2018-01-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2017-07-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-07-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2017-07-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2017-07-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-07-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2017-01-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2017-01-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-01-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-08-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2016-08-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.67 0.19 Bagging Operator
2016-08-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2016-08-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-08-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 1.58 0.14 Bagging Operator
2015-11-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2015-11-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Loader
2015-11-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2015-11-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.51 1.04 0.49 Bagging Operator
2015-11-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.72 0.17 Bagging Operator
2015-08-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.32 0.69 0.46 Bagging Operator
2015-08-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.47 0.77 Bagging Operator
2015-08-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.51 0.56 0.91 Bagging Operator
2011-10-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.59 0.41 Bagging Operator
2011-10-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.65 0.20 Bagging Operator
2011-04-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 0.54 0.37 Front-end Loader Operator
2008-09-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.72 0.29 Crusher Oper/Worker
2008-09-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2008-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 0.48 0.94 Bagging Operator
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

Cowboy Mining Co 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 metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 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
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 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. PDSCo Inc 1996 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 15
2025 16
2024 14
2023 13
2022 9
2021 13
2020 8
2019 10
2018 11
2017 11
2016 11
2015 11
2014 11
2013 10
2012 10
2011 11
2010 11
2009 10
2008 9
2007 10
2006 10
2005 8
2004 8
2003 8
2002 8
2001 8
2000 8
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Cowboy Mining Co sits in Brewster County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Brewster County, Texas · Population 9,464
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$52,612
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 9,805 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 9,668 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 9,044 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 9,297 1 0 107.6
2025 Q2 9,561 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 10,045 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 9,186 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 8,016 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 8,047 4 1 497.1
2024 Q1 6,987 3 0 429.4
2023 Q4 6,098 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 8,245 1 0 121.3
2023 Q2 8,296 1 0 120.5
2023 Q1 6,322 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 5,055 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 5,557 1 0 180.0
2022 Q2 5,288 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 5,476 1 0 182.6
2021 Q4 6,062 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 7,765 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 8,271 2 1 241.8
2021 Q1 7,086 4 0 564.5
2020 Q4 7,288 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 5,156 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,893 1 0 256.9
2020 Q1 3,604 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 4,780 1 0 209.2
2019 Q3 7,084 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 7,067 2 0 283.0
2019 Q1 5,628 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 4,585 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 7,977 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 7,787 1 0 128.4
2018 Q1 6,270 1 0 159.5
2017 Q4 4,889 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 7,607 2 2 262.9
2017 Q2 7,225 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 5,889 3 1 509.4
2016 Q4 5,082 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 7,989 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 7,384 5 0 677.1
2016 Q1 5,401 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 5,738 3 1 522.8
2015 Q3 8,097 3 0 370.5
2015 Q2 8,036 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 6,467 1 0 154.6
2014 Q4 5,299 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 7,505 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 6,841 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 6,116 2 2 327.0
2013 Q4 5,320 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 8,149 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 7,892 3 1 380.1
2013 Q1 7,388 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 6,540 3 1 458.7
2012 Q3 7,687 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 8,189 2 0 244.2
2012 Q1 6,012 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,713 7 3 1225.3
2011 Q3 8,056 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 7,393 7 3 946.8
2011 Q1 7,331 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 7,594 3 0 395.0
2010 Q3 7,159 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 6,954 10 6 1438.0
2010 Q1 6,305 7 6 1110.2
2009 Q4 5,494 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 7,420 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 7,496 2 2 266.8
2009 Q1 4,535 2 0 441.0
2008 Q4 5,287 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 6,374 2 2 313.8
2008 Q2 4,810 5 0 1039.5
2008 Q1 3,589 2 1 557.3
2007 Q4 4,927 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 5,430 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,610 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 5,496 1 1 182.0
2006 Q4 5,656 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,887 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 4,481 2 0 446.3
2006 Q1 5,311 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,499 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,210 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 3,362 5 2 1487.2
2005 Q1 3,689 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 3,934 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 4,665 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,382 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,321 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 3,899 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,543 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 3,767 4 0 1061.9
2003 Q1 3,178 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,570 7 1 1960.8
2002 Q3 4,013 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 4,159 13 3 3125.8
2002 Q1 4,005 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,527 12 6 2650.8
2001 Q3 3,667 10 5 2727.0
2001 Q2 2,895 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 3,648 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 4,094 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 4,244 2 1 471.3
2000 Q2 3,536 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 5,047 3 1 594.4
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

3 on file

2011 · 1 incident

October 19, 2011 TX · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
PDSCo Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

Was cutting the last bolt in a repair project with a grinder. Piece fell off, bounced and went into a boot. Hot metal stopped on top of his foot. Took him to hospital. They gave him a tetanus shot and ointment. They then sent him home.

2009 · 1 incident

December 3, 2009 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PDSCo Inc · Struck by falling object

Someone had broken leg off scale. Employee used a shovel to pry up the scale to put leg back on. The shovel shifted & came out. Employee's hand was under scale when it dropped.

2008 · 1 incident

January 29, 2008 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
PDSCo Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

3 EE's were bagging and palleting, the EE's were taking turns, one bags and the others pallet. EE was being trained on both bagging and how to pallet the #50 bags. Was no accident, EE starined his wrist.