Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
English Español
← Back to search

Lucerne #1: 39 MSHA citations Coal

Britt Energies Inc · Surface
Controlled by Christopher J Evans
Homer City, Indiana County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3608690

Lucerne #1 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Lucerne #1.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
7
Years on record
2004–2011
Latest incident
Oct 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
39
citations
18
significant & substantial
$5,159
proposed penalties
$5,059
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $100 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Britt Energies Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
76
inspections on record
1,219
inspection hours
3.2
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.
39 citations across 1,219 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Lucerne #1 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$5K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
39 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $899 in penalties contested before the Commission, $699 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-03-18.
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.
46.2%
significant & substantial
17.9%
high negligence or reckless
46.2%
reasonably likely or greater
28.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 23.1% low, 59.0% moderate, 17.9% 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.
5 citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 40%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 40%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 20%
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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
22%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$899 proposed, $699 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 2012-12-10.
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
PENN 2010-188 Dismissal Lesnick 2011 $799 → $599
PENN 2013-102 Settlement Lesnick 2013 $100 → $100
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Lucerne #1 shows 100% of 129 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: 2015-03-18, 11 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
129
samples
0.90
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.
114 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 15 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR60
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER37
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR15

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2009-04-20, 17 years ago
22.0
silica avg (%)
7
samples
39.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR5
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE2
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2014-03-24, 12 years ago
0%
over PEL
68
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR27
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER20
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR9
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2015 100% 1
2014 100% 6
2013 100% 6
2012 100% 3
2011 100% 9
2010 100% 2
2009 100% 8
2008 100% 11
2007 100% 14
2006 100% 18
2005 100% 21
2004 100% 11
2003 100% 3
2002 100% 8
2001 100% 2
2000 100% 6
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2009 11.7 1
2007 22.5 1
2005 39.9 1
2004 20.1 2
2002 6.5 1
2000 33.1 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2014 0% 4
2013 0% 3
2012 0% 2
2011 0% 4
2010 0% 1
2009 0% 3
2008 0% 4
2007 0% 4
2006 0% 15
2005 0% 7
2004 0% 7
2003 0% 3
2002 0% 4
2001 0% 3
2000 0% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Lucerne #1 recorded 17.34 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.

Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ 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.
17.34
total case rate
8.67
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 4.31 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
2011 * 17.34 8.67 0.000
2006 * 12.37 6.18 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 6.61 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. Britt Energies Inc 1997 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)
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 2 6,867
2014 6 35,896
2013 5 45,686
2012 3 394
2011 9 81,065
2010 8 37,631
2009 4 15,552
2008 5 50,163
2007 8 112,537
2006 13 172,275
2005 17 231,650
2004 13 171,458
2003 6 74,331
2002 9 56,963
2001 6 50,007
2000 3 35,624
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Lucerne #1 sits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 2.4% 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.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania · Population 83,213
2.4%
Mining share of county employment
$58,739
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 0 0 0
2026 Q1 0 0 0
2025 Q4 0 0 0
2025 Q3 0 0 0
2025 Q2 0 0 0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 0 0 0
2024 Q3 0 0 0
Show 96 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 0 0 0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 0 0 0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 0 0 0
2021 Q3 0 0 0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 0 0
2020 Q1 0 0 0
2019 Q4 0 0 0
2019 Q3 0 0 0
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
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 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 0 0 0
2015 Q3 119 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 282 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 575 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 1,697 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,452 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,358 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 3,618 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 3,588 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 736 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 388 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 638 2 0 3134.8
2012 Q2 896 1 0 1116.1
2012 Q1 1,809 2 1 1105.6
2011 Q4 5,709 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 6,119 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,708 1 0 175.2
2011 Q1 5,533 2 1 361.5
2010 Q4 4,614 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,548 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 4,966 3 0 604.1
2010 Q1 2,860 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,370 3 1 890.2
2009 Q3 796 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 740 2 2 2702.7
2009 Q1 636 1 0 1572.3
2008 Q4 1,436 1 0 696.4
2008 Q3 0 0 0
2008 Q2 5,413 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,850 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,671 1 0 272.4
2007 Q3 4,336 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,274 1 0 189.6
2007 Q1 5,214 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 5,841 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 6,441 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 9,589 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 10,471 3 1 286.5
2005 Q4 10,333 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 11,140 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 10,878 1 1 91.9
2005 Q1 10,257 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 9,522 2 1 210.0
2004 Q3 7,871 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 7,270 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 5,594 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 5,160 1 0 193.8
2003 Q3 3,649 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 2,382 4 4 1679.3
2003 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 2,852 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 5,350 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,158 1 1 193.9
2002 Q1 5,822 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 5,850 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,384 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 3,534 1 1 283.0
2001 Q1 2,648 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 2,792 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 1,510 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 1,125 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 300 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

7 on file

2011 · 2 incidents

October 28, 2011 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Britt Energies Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE removed discharge hose from water pump allowing steam to escape causing burns on both arms.

October 28, 2011 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Britt Energies Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

While tightening primer plug on water pump hot water sprayed on employee's left forearm, causing burns.

2008 · 1 incident

February 11, 2008 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Britt Energies Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was using jumper cables to start Cat 320, while stepping over cable he slipped & fell on knee.

2007 · 1 incident

January 22, 2007 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Britt Energies Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While coming down the steps of the 966D highlift operator slipped and twisted his right knee.

2006 · 2 incidents

August 24, 2006 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Britt Energies Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE was clearing trees and stumps preparing for the next advancing pit. He was backing up and hit a stump, dozer came to a sudden stop.

January 4, 2006 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Britt Energies Inc · Struck against a moving object

WHILE BACKING UP DOZER, EE WENT OVER A MOUND OF DIRT, RESULTING IN HIS HEAD HITTING SPEAKER MOUNT & CAUSING LACERATION (STITCHES). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, EE WAS WEARING SEAT BELT.

2004 · 1 incident

August 2, 2004 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Britt Energies Inc · Struck by flying object

Seeding-mulching sediment pond, feeding hay into mulcher hand was slapped by chain and hand was stoved; x rays taken: no broken bones.