Pioneer Coal, Inc. · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
Throwing timbers and twisted his back.
D-19: 717 MSHA citations Coal
Blackjewel L.L.C.
· Underground
Controlled by
Jeffery A Hoops
Vansant,
Buchanan County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4407045
D-19 has $253K in proposed MSHA penalties and $91K outstanding across 20 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 3
- Years on record
- 2009–2015
- Latest incident
- Nov 2015
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
717
citations
173
significant & substantial
$252,678
proposed penalties
$104,441
paid to date
41% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $148,237 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
147
inspections on record
7,580
inspection hours
9.5
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.717 citations across 7,580 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
D-19 has $253K in proposed MSHA penalties and $91K outstanding across 20 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.$253K
proposed penalties
$195K
current assessed
$104K
paid to date
$91K
outstanding
704 assessments are final orders; 20 contested dockets.
Of $157K in penalties contested before the Commission, $99K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-12-04.
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.24.5%
significant & substantial
3.8%
high negligence or reckless
24.7%
reasonably likely or greater
21.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 14.3% low, 81.8% moderate, 3.8% 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.
186
citations taken to the federal commission · 26% of citations on record
- Settled 185 · 99%
- Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 1%
98%
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 53 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
38%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$160K proposed, $100K 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 2018-06-25.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA 2017-0088 | Settlement | Lewis | 2018 | $44K → $16K |
| VA 2017-0090 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $36K → $25K |
| VA 2017-0145 | Settlement | Lewis | 2018 | $27K → $19K |
| VA 2017-0089 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $9K → $7K |
| VA 2017-0113 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $7K → $5K |
| VA 2016-0228 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $6K → $5K |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at D-19 shows 98% of 830 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: 2017-02-09, 9 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.98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
830
samples
3.21
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.332 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 498 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR422
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)89
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)68
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2017-02-15, 9 years ago5.3
silica avg (%)
49
samples
8.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR26
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)12
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: 2016-10-13, 9 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.10%
over PEL
96
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR17
- TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN17
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)15
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 100% | 25 |
| 2016 | 99% | 116 |
| 2015 | 100% | 63 |
| 2014 | 95% | 58 |
| 2013 | 95% | 66 |
| 2012 | 98% | 81 |
| 2011 | 98% | 64 |
| 2010 | 100% | 70 |
| 2009 | 99% | 72 |
| 2008 | 100% | 62 |
| 2007 | 100% | 58 |
| 2006 | 96% | 56 |
| 2005 | 100% | 39 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2.8 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4.0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5.1 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5.6 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4.5 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5.5 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4.8 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5.6 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5.6 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7.0 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6.1 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5.8 | 4 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0% | 10 |
| 2015 | 0% | 8 |
| 2014 | 0% | 10 |
| 2013 | 10% | 10 |
| 2012 | 0% | 8 |
| 2011 | 0% | 10 |
| 2010 | 60% | 5 |
| 2009 | 7% | 14 |
| 2008 | 33% | 6 |
| 2006 | 11% | 9 |
| 2005 | 33% | 6 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
D-19 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2016.
Injury rate, 2016
ⓘ
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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2015 * | 8.17 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2014 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2013 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2012 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 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.
Ownership history
- Dominion Coal Corporation 2002 to 2005
- Laurel Creek Mining Corp 2005 to 2011
- Black Diamond Coal Co. 2011 to 2015
- Pioneer Coal, Inc. 2015 to 2016
- Blackjewel L.L.C. 2016 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 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 27,460 |
| 2016 | 19 | 72,246 |
| 2015 | 13 | 73,494 |
| 2014 | 12 | 59,823 |
| 2013 | 14 | 45,677 |
| 2012 | 15 | 52,293 |
| 2011 | 11 | 49,020 |
| 2010 | 8 | 43,535 |
| 2009 | 9 | 62,519 |
| 2008 | 10 | 58,679 |
| 2007 | 9 | 40,276 |
| 2006 | 9 | 55,932 |
| 2005 | 6 | 27,214 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
D-19 sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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 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 | 19,233 | 25 | 7 | 1299.8 |
| 2016 Q4 | 18,535 | 82 | 31 | 4424.1 |
| 2016 Q3 | 12,472 | 40 | 5 | 3207.2 |
Show 45 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Q2 | 10,180 | 40 | 9 | 3929.3 |
| 2016 Q1 | 6,446 | 18 | 7 | 2792.4 |
| 2015 Q4 | 6,383 | 22 | 6 | 3446.7 |
| 2015 Q3 | 7,005 | 8 | 1 | 1142.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 5,529 | 14 | 4 | 2532.1 |
| 2015 Q1 | 5,549 | 7 | 1 | 1261.5 |
| 2014 Q4 | 6,352 | 5 | 1 | 787.2 |
| 2014 Q3 | 6,241 | 14 | 3 | 2243.2 |
| 2014 Q2 | 5,260 | 22 | 3 | 4182.5 |
| 2014 Q1 | 3,892 | 16 | 3 | 4111.0 |
| 2013 Q4 | 3,616 | 18 | 4 | 4977.9 |
| 2013 Q3 | 6,826 | 15 | 1 | 2197.5 |
| 2013 Q2 | 7,238 | 32 | 3 | 4421.1 |
| 2013 Q1 | 6,438 | 43 | 8 | 6679.1 |
| 2012 Q4 | 6,906 | 17 | 3 | 2461.6 |
| 2012 Q3 | 6,400 | 9 | 1 | 1406.2 |
| 2012 Q2 | 6,475 | 12 | 2 | 1853.3 |
| 2012 Q1 | 7,268 | 11 | 4 | 1513.5 |
| 2011 Q4 | 6,391 | 17 | 7 | 2660.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 5,946 | 13 | 7 | 2186.3 |
| 2011 Q2 | 4,957 | 16 | 3 | 3227.8 |
| 2011 Q1 | 4,477 | 12 | 4 | 2680.4 |
| 2010 Q4 | 4,438 | 9 | 5 | 2027.9 |
| 2010 Q3 | 4,386 | 10 | 1 | 2280.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 3,670 | 19 | 5 | 5177.1 |
| 2010 Q1 | 3,596 | 9 | 1 | 2502.8 |
| 2009 Q4 | 3,732 | 12 | 3 | 3215.4 |
| 2009 Q3 | 4,653 | 11 | 2 | 2364.1 |
| 2009 Q2 | 4,300 | 19 | 4 | 4418.6 |
| 2009 Q1 | 4,213 | 3 | 0 | 712.1 |
| 2008 Q4 | 4,339 | 8 | 4 | 1843.7 |
| 2008 Q3 | 4,461 | 6 | 0 | 1345.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 4,024 | 8 | 0 | 1988.1 |
| 2008 Q1 | 4,127 | 6 | 0 | 1453.8 |
| 2007 Q4 | 4,092 | 4 | 1 | 977.5 |
| 2007 Q3 | 4,156 | 4 | 0 | 962.5 |
| 2007 Q2 | 4,446 | 3 | 0 | 674.8 |
| 2007 Q1 | 4,533 | 1 | 0 | 220.6 |
| 2006 Q4 | 4,460 | 2 | 0 | 448.4 |
| 2006 Q3 | 4,776 | 1 | 0 | 209.4 |
| 2006 Q2 | 3,962 | 2 | 0 | 504.8 |
| 2006 Q1 | 3,950 | 1 | 0 | 253.2 |
| 2005 Q4 | 2,758 | 7 | 2 | 2538.1 |
| 2005 Q3 | 2,975 | 11 | 7 | 3697.5 |
| 2005 Q2 | 3,632 | 1 | 0 | 275.3 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
3 on file2015 · 1 incident
2009 · 2 incidents
December 11, 2009
VA · Coal
discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator
OTHER
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE began complaining of shortness of breath while U.G. He was transported to the surface and suffered a heart attack while on the surface of the mine. He was transported by ambulance to a hospital where he passed away on 12/13/09. It is believed the heart attack was from natural causes and not as a result of any thing in his work environment.
October 20, 2009
VA · Coal
discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator
POWERED HAULAGE
Laurel Creek Mining Corp · Struck against a moving object
When exiting S&S unihauler to help continuous miner operator change place (heading) EE felt a pain in lower back. EE did not report injury until 10/26/09 at 9:30am.