Summersville, Nicholas County,
WV
·
Temporarily Idled
MSHA Mine ID: 4608155
Lilly Fork Surface Mine has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $223 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
18
Years on record
1993–2014
Latest incident
Apr 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
48
citations
18
significant & substantial
$9,338
proposed penalties
$8,019
paid to date
86% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,319 gap.
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.
48 citations across 1,124 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Lilly Fork Surface Mine has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $223 outstanding across 2 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.
$9K
proposed penalties
$8K
current assessed
$8K
paid to date
$223
outstanding
45 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-02-20.
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.
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.
8citations taken to the federal commission · 17% of citations on record
Settled
8 · 100%
88%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 8 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
30%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$4K proposed, $3K 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 2007-09-24.
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.
MSHA sampling at Lilly Fork Surface Mine shows 100% of 42 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: 2013-04-26, 13 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
42
samples
0.41
dust max (mg/m3)
42 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
BULLDOZER OPERATOR15
REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE7
BACKHOE OPERATOR6
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.
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.
Lilly Fork Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.13 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
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001 *
5.37
5.37
0.000
2000 *
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.
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
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
0
2022
0
2021
0
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2017
3
2016
0
2015
0
2014
0
2013
0
2012
26
147,649
2011
1
2010
1
2009
1
2008
1
2007
5
23,289
2006
33
236,914
2005
10
2004
10
2,065
2003
7
33,513
2002
6
17,162
2001
18
356,421
2000
27
709,935
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Lilly Fork Surface Mine sits in Nicholas County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 6.1% 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.
Nicholas County, West Virginia · Population 24,446
6.1%
Mining share of county employment
$49,280
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
A grass/ brush fire occurred on the property after an electrical malfunction occurred on a power pole which allowed a hot spark to fall to the ground and ignite the dry grass. Approximately 15 acres of grass & rubbish were burned. No equipment was involved. The fire was extinguished by fire department crews. There were no employees working and this mine is inactive/ non producing.
2007 · 3 incidents
March 14, 2007WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techELECTRICAL
Employee was hooking highline into mouse house, 4th piece of cable during a lighting storm; lightening struck close by coming through cable causing cable to energize and shock him.
March 12, 2007WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was walking down the highwall mine launch pad to help padmen disconnect the catheads and remove the miner caps. He stepped on the area of the pad between grating and dimple plate and slipped. When he slipped, he caught himself on the handrails causing him to twist his lower back.
On 9/29/06, employee was hauling overburden in a cat 785 rock truck, when a huge rock slid to the rear of his truck rearing the truck up in the front end. When the truck sat back down, he hit his forehead on something inside the cab. He required stitches.
August 21, 2006WV · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
On 8/21/06 member picked up an air filter to set it over the guard rail of his truck. He felt his shoulder pop & felt pain. Member has a history of shoulder problems prior to working in the mining industry. This situation should be classified as an occupational illness.
EE WAS TIGHTENING RIGHT SIDE RAIL ON D-10R DOZER WITH A BOX AND WRENCH SLIPPED OFF THE BOLT AND EE'S ARM CAME DOWN AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE HOOD WITH HIS RIGHT ELBOW. BEGAN MISSING WORK 10-29 -2001.
2000 · 2 incidents
September 6, 2000WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS GRINDING A PIECE OF METAL THAT IS PART OF THE HANDRAIL/STEP ASSEMBLY FOR A DOZER AND WAS TRYING TO REMOVE ABURR WHEN THE GRINDING WHEEL BROKE INTO PIECES AND STRUCK HIM IN THE ABDOMEN.
EMPLOYEE FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONATROL OF THE COAL TRUCK IN WHICH HE WAS DRIVING DOWN HILL ON A COAL HAULAGE ROAD. HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE THE #3 CURVE WHILE DESENDING & OVER-TURNED. HE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES 987 STITCHES TO THE NOSE) - WAS KEPT FOR OBSERVATION AT SUMMERSVILLE MEMORICAL HOSPITAL & RELEASED ON 12-10-93.
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