LONE MOUNTAIN PLANT has $94K in proposed MSHA penalties and $27K outstanding across 15 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
83
Years on record
1983–2012
Latest incident
Jun 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
304
citations
111
significant & substantial
$93,722
proposed penalties
$60,247
paid to date
64% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $33,475 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.
304 citations across 6,600 inspection hours.
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: 2012-04-18.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
LONE MOUNTAIN PLANT has $94K in proposed MSHA penalties and $27K outstanding across 15 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.
$94K
proposed penalties
$88K
current assessed
$60K
paid to date
$27K
outstanding
301 assessments are final orders; 15 contested dockets.
Of $35K in penalties contested before the Commission, $28K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-02-18.
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.
25citations taken to the federal commission · 8% of citations on record
Settled
23 · 92%
Stood as issued
1 · 4%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 4%
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 10 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
17%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$34K proposed, $28K 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 2019-06-23.
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 LONE MOUNTAIN PLANT shows 99% of 421 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: 2026-08-11
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
421
samples
2.19
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.
316 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 105 by the operator.
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.
LONE MOUNTAIN PLANT recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2022.
Injury rate, 2022
ⓘ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 3.26 and the all-US-mining average was 2.12 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 2.34 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
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015
0.00
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
* 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
Year
Employees
2026
2
2025
7
2024
7
2023
9
2022
9
2021
9
2020
8
2019
15
2018
27
2017
27
2016
41
2015
44
2014
46
2013
47
2012
51
2011
51
2010
47
2009
45
2008
49
2007
48
2006
49
2005
49
2004
43
2003
39
2002
41
2001
37
2000
41
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
LONE MOUNTAIN PLANT sits in Lee County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.
Lee County, Virginia · Population 22,042
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$42,269
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
THE VICTIM WAS HAULING REFUSE FINES -100 MESH TO THE IMPOUNDMENT. HE WAS BACKING THE TRUCK TO THE DUMPING POINT WHEN FOR SOME REASON. HE TURNED THE TRUCK THROUGH THE BERM. THE TRUCK TURNED TO THE LEFT SIDE AND SLID DOWN THE EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE, SUBMERGING THE CAB INTO THE IMPOUNDMENT MATERIALS.
Employee was using a conduit bender when his hands slipped from the bender allowing it to come back and strike him in the mouth. This resulted in three chipped teeth requiring resin to repair.
A contract employee (J & H Enterprises - I.D. # D671) was operating a Mack coal hauler on the Plant haul road when he lost control of the truck, struck a berm, and flipped the truck over onto the roadway. He suffered lacerations to the head and a concussion. The driver missed the next working day and returned to work on Monday September 26th.
2009 · 2 incidents
July 31, 2009VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While cutting a bracket on some conduit, the conduit shifted, striking the ladder that the employee was on. The ladder fell, causing the employee to hit the floor resulting in a laceration to the head, requiring sutures. It was later found that the employee had suffered a non-displaced compression fractrue to his lower back.
April 23, 2009VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Employees were cutting 6" off of a 20" piece of 4' steel pipe which was suspended by a crane. The injured employee was holding down the pipe near the sling. When the pipe was cut the suspended piece rose up and caught the employee's thumb between the pipe and a piece of metal gurting resulting in a laceration to his left thumb requiring sutures.
2007 · 1 incident
May 17, 2007VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
As EE stepped up to metal platform from the floor, he slipped catching himself before he fell. He con't to work & started missing work due to injury 5/22/07.
2002 · 1 incident
June 7, 2002VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HE WAS USING CUTTING TORCHES TO CUT BOLTS OUT OF A CAT PAD ON A D7 BULLDOZER, AS A BOLT WAS CUT, THE PAD JERKED, CATCHING HIS HAND AGAINST ANOTHER PAD.
October 6, 2001VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE WAS LIFTING A RAW COAL SCREEN WITH A CHAIN HOIST. THE CHAIN BROKE AND CAUSED HIM TO FALL ON HIS RIGHT KNEE. HE CONTINUED TO WORK AND HAD OUTPATIENT SURGERY ON 7-2-01. THIS OCCURRED DURING VACATION SHUTDOWN. HE RETURNED ON HIS NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT.
HE WALKED INTO A STEEL ROPE THAT WAS BEING USED TO HOLD A PIPE IN PLACE. THE STEEL ROPE STRUCK HIM ACROSS THE RIGHT EYE LID. (HE RETURNED TO WORK ON HIS NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT)
April 3, 2000VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED FELT PAIN IN HIS NECK WHEN HE TURNED HIS HEAD TO LOOK IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. HE BEGAN MISSING WORK ON 2/17/00 AND ONLY WORKS 3 WEEKEND DAYS A WEEK. SO FAR HE HAS MISSED 6 DAYS. HE HAS H AD PROBLEMS WITH NECK PAIN FOR APPROX 2 YRS BUT DID NOT MISS WORK UNTIL NOW.
1999 · 2 incidents
June 13, 1999VA · CoalALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
EE HAS SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC BACK PAIN FOR YEARS, FINALLY REQUIRING DISC SURGERY. EE STARTED MISSING WORK ON 6/13/99. AS OF 6/25/99 HE HAS MISSED 8 SCHEDULED WORK DAYS. HE WORKS 4 ON AND 3 OFF SCHEDULE.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A BELT PRESS ROLLER IN THE PREP PLANT, HE WAS USING A PIECE OF 4" PIPE TO HELP PUT ROLLER IN PLACE, WHEN THE ROLLER SLIPPED OFF OF PIPE AND HIS THUMB WAS CAUGHT BETW EEN PIPE AND SHAFT OF ROLLER, MASHING IT.
1998 · 4 incidents
December 16, 1998VA · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED STATED THAT AS HE WAS HOOKING UP A 13" BELT PRESS ROLLER. WHEN THE ROLLER ROLLED OVER HIS LITTLE FINGER OF HIS RIGHT HAND. MASHING IT. NO TREATMENT WAS GIVEN MEDICAL BUT X RAY SHOWED F RACTURE.
July 28, 1998VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
INJURED STATED THAT THEY WERE USING 2 COME A LONGS CHAIN HOIST TO CHANGE OUT A 30 HP MOTOR ON RAW COAL SCREEN. ONE CHAIN WAS USED TO HOLD UP MOTOR, WHILE OTHER ONE WAS HOOKED TO THAT CHAIN TO PUT MOTOR IN PLACE. ONE CHAIN SLIPPED, CAUSING HIS RT INDEX FINGER TO BE CAUGHT IN INCH POINT.
INJURED STATED THAT AS HE WAS REMOVING BOTTOM DECK SCREEN FROM THE SCALPING SCREEN IT BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN TOP DECK OF SCALPING SCREEN AND FRAME BRACE. THEY WERE USING PRYBARS TO LOOSEN IT WH EN IT CAME LOOSE STRIKING HIM ACROSS THE BACK AND SIDE.
INJURED STATED THAT HE WAS HELPING CHANGE A SCREEN OUT IN D&R IN PLANT WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN HIS UPPER BACK. HE CONTINUED TO WORK AND PAIN GOT WORSE. HE STARTED MISSING WORK ON APRIL 5, 1998.
EE STATED THAT AS HE WAS RUNNING UP STAIRS IN PLANT TO 5TH FLOOR, HE TURNED AT TOP OF STAIRS TO GO TO CONTROL ROOM WHEN HE FELT HIS KNEE POP CUASING PAIN. HE STARTED MISSING WORK ON 1/15/98 WH EN HE HAD KNEE SURGERY TO REPAIR TORN CARTILAGE.
October 18, 1997VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
INJURED STATED THAT AS HE WAS USING A CHIPPING HAMMER TO PRY BACK ON A COUPLING ON A RAW COAL CYCLONE IN THE PLANT, THE HAMMER SLIPPED AND STRUCK HIM ON THE SIDE OF HIS NOSE.
March 8, 1997VA · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED STATED THAT AS HE WAS MOUNTING A 275 MICHIGAN LOADER, AN ANTENNA THAT WAS TURNED HORIZONTALLY, STRUCK HIM IN THE EAR. ON 1-20-98, HE INFORMED COMPANY OFFICIAL THAT A FOLLOW UP VISIT TO DR IN JUNE 1997 REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION THATMADE INJURY REPORTABLE. OPERATOR WAS NOT INFORMED INJURY REPORTABLE UNTIL 1-20-98.
AFTER CARTER MACHINERY CHANGED THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THE D9L #1 DOZER AT PREP PLANT WE STARTED OPERATING DOZER. A LEAK FROM THE #6 RT INJECTOR LINE RESULTED IN A FIRE THAT LASTED APPROX 35 MINUTE S. CAB AND HYDRAULIC HOSES WERE DAMAGED ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS.
1996 · 4 incidents
September 13, 1996VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HE STATED THAT HE CAUGHT HIS FINGER BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME AT CONTROL ROOM WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE DOOR. IT CUT THE TIP OF HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER OFF FROM THE BOTTOM OF NAIL TO THE TIP.
September 9, 1996VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE STATED THAT HE WAS COMING DOWN AN EXTENSION LADDER IN THE PLANT, WHEN THE LADDER SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER HIM CAUSING HIM TO FALL TO THE FLOOR AND STRIKINGTHE BACK OF HIS HEAD AGAINST THE FLO OR. THE FALL RESULTED IN A FRACTURE TO BACK OF HEAD.
ROCK FELL IN COAL FEEDER - PRYED OUT -ANOTHER FELL -PRYED AGAIN -WHILE PRYING ANOTHER ROCK FELL CAUSING PINKIE FINGER TO BE CAUGHT BETWEEN ROCK AND BAR - CUTTING FINGER.
May 11, 1989VA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS WATERING HAULROAD IN THE WATER TRUCK AS HE WAS BACKING DOWN A STEEP PORTION OF THE ROAD THE TRUCK BEGAN TO WHEEL HOP THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO COME OUT OF GEAR AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED THE EMPLOYEE FELT THE TRUCK WAS UNCONTROLLABLE SO HE JUMPED FROM THE TRUCK
June 23, 1988VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS