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Little Sapello Pit: 132 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Sangre de Cristo · Surface
Sapello, San Miguel County, NM  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 2901327

Little Sapello Pit has $78K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
1984–1991
Latest incident
Oct 1991
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
132
citations
56
significant & substantial
$78,322
proposed penalties
$56,729
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $21,593 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
49
inspections on record
699
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: 699 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Little Sapello Pit has $78K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 4 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.
$78K
proposed penalties
$64K
current assessed
$57K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
130 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $39K in penalties contested before the Commission, $24K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-05-01.
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.
43.1%
significant & substantial
5.4%
high negligence or reckless
43.1%
reasonably likely or greater
66.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 10.0% low, 84.6% moderate, 5.4% 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.
16 citations taken to the federal commission · 12% of citations on record
  • Settled 15 · 94%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 6%
71%
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 14 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
39%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$39K proposed, $24K 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 2013-08-21.
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
CENT 2009-622M Settlement Lesnick 2009 $17K → $12K
CENT 2012-227M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $13K → $4K
CENT 2012-228M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $6K → $6K
CENT 2013-668M Settlement Bulluck 2015 $4K → $2K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), 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: 2009-08-06, 17 years ago
32%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
19
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz196 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Show the individual readings (27)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2009-08-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 0.34 1.12 Cleanup Man
2009-08-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.64 0.6 1.07 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.85 0.55 1.55 Bulldozer Operator
2009-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.9 0.65 1.38 Backhoe Operator
2009-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 3.11 0.46 6.76 Cleanup Man
2002-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.21 0.79 1.53 Laborer, Bullgang
2009-08-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2007-10-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2007-10-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2007-10-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 0.47 0.96 Supervisor, Co. Official
2007-10-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.61 0.21 Bulldozer Operator
2007-05-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.74 0.45 Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-05-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2007-05-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.33 0.36 Laborer, Bullgang
2007-05-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2007-05-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.3 0.50 Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2006-08-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.31 0.48 Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2004-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.47 0.57 Cleanup Man
2004-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.31 0.61 Cleanup Man
2004-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.38 0.58 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 0.44 0.89 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-07-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.56 0.64 Laborer, Bullgang
2002-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.86 0.14 Supervisor, Co. Official
2002-04-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 0.81 0.28 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-04-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
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.
Ownership history
  1. Sierra Transit Mix Inc 1979 to 2007
  2. Sangre de Cristo 2007 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2014 1
2013 7
2012 4
2011 5
2010 5
2009 10
2008 5
2007 6
2006 5
2005 6
2004 5
2003 6
2002 6
2001 5
2000 5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Little Sapello Pit sits in San Miguel County, New Mexico, 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.
San Miguel County, New Mexico · Population 27,036
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$47,400
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
2014 Q1 1 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,131 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 5,467 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 586 5 2 8532.4
2013 Q1 1 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 426 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 654 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 127 0 0 0.0
Show 39 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2012 Q1 663 8 1 12066.4
2011 Q4 631 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,742 7 5 4018.4
2011 Q2 1,360 3 2 2205.9
2011 Q1 526 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 2,985 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 2,226 10 5 4492.4
2010 Q1 1,420 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 2,877 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 3,949 2 2 506.5
2009 Q2 5,200 13 8 2500.0
2008 Q4 2,027 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 1,836 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 2,700 3 1 1111.1
2008 Q1 1,950 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 2,616 8 2 3058.1
2007 Q3 2,323 2 0 861.0
2007 Q2 2,403 4 2 1664.6
2007 Q1 355 2 0 5633.8
2006 Q4 1,491 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 2,069 13 6 6283.2
2006 Q2 1,966 1 0 508.6
2006 Q1 1,158 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,585 2 0 557.9
2005 Q2 3,406 5 3 1468.0
2005 Q1 2,083 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 109 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 2,420 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 2,498 3 1 1201.0
2004 Q1 1,843 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 2,325 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 2,576 17 8 6599.4
2002 Q2 2,182 2 0 916.6
2001 Q2 2,435 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 1,047 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 1,206 2 1 1658.4
2000 Q3 3,425 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 2,638 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 1,968 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

14 on file

1991 · 2 incidents

October 9, 1991 NM · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING THE CIVER OF A FIFTY- FOUR (54) INCH CONE-TYPE AGGREGATE MATERIAL CRUSHER WHEN HE FELT A PAIN JUST BELOW HIS STOMACH AND BELOW HIS GROIN

April 10, 1991 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE HOLDING A GROUND ROD BEING DRIVEN INTO GROUND WAS HIT BY SLEDGE HAMMER ON INDEX FINGER OF RIGHT HAND SLEDGE HAMMER WAS BEING HANDLED BY EE AT MELTON PIT.

1989 · 2 incidents

June 8, 1989 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by falling object

ROCK ROLLED OFF CONVEYOR A-9 AND HIT MINER ON SHOULDER.

January 10, 1989 NM · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings

THEY WERE CLEANING FEED PIT WHEN MATERIAL COLLAPSED.

1986 · 2 incidents

March 26, 1986 NM · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS CH9CKING WATER ON RADIATOR WHEN HE ACCIDENTLY SLIPPED AND FELL BACK CHIPPED HIS WRIST HAS SUFFERED NECK AND BACK PAIN SINCE ALSO OCCASIONAL HEADACHES

February 3, 1986 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck against stationary object

STEPPED ON ROCK3WHEN GETTING OFF A TRUCK CAUSING HIM TO TWIST HIS RT ANKLE HE WAS OUT OF WORK FOR 3 DAYS

1985 · 5 incidents

October 10, 1985 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by falling object

HE WAS CLEANING3CONVEYOR, SWELLING OF LEG

October 10, 1985 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by falling object

CHANGING SCREEN8 CHANGING SCREEN8 WHEN HAND SLIPPED FROM HANDLE AND SCREEN FELL ON SHOULDER CAUSING HIM TO DISLOCATE HIS SHOULDER.

March 5, 1985 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by falling object

A ROCK FELL OFF OF THE SCREEN AND HIT HIS RIGHT LEG.

1984 · 3 incidents

September 7, 1984 NM · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WAS PUTTING BELT ON GEAR BOX TO PULLY PRYING ON IT WHEN BAR SLIPED AND HIT LOWER EYE (RIGHT)

March 19, 1984 NM · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Fall from machine

HE WAS FUELING LOADER SLIPPED AND FELL STEP WAS WET AT TIME IT WAS SNOWING.

January 13, 1984 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sierra Transit Mix Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

CONVEYOR BELT WAS STUCK I NAME PULLED IT DOWN AND HURT HIS TAILBONE.