Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine: 126 MSHA citations Coal
Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine has $57K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine.
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 0
- Years on record
- —
- Latest incident
- —
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
126
citations
30
significant & substantial
$56,949
proposed penalties
$49,691
paid to date
87% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $7,258 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
66
inspections on record
987
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: 987 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine has $57K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 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.$57K
proposed penalties
$50K
current assessed
$50K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
126 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $25K in penalties contested before the Commission, $18K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-06-01.
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.23.8%
significant & substantial
5.6%
high negligence or reckless
23.8%
reasonably likely or greater
8.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 15.9% low, 78.6% moderate, 5.6% 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.
13
citations taken to the federal commission · 10% of citations on record
- Settled 13 · 100%
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 7 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
29%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$25K proposed, $18K 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 2017-03-28.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE 2008-131 | Settlement | Melick | 2009 | $9K → $7K |
| SE 2008-384 | Settlement | Miller | 2009 | $7K → $4K |
| SE 2008-278M | Settlement | Miller | 2009 | $7K → $5K |
| SE 2017-0132 | Settlement | Paez | 2017 | $2K → $2K |
| SE 2008-132 | Settlement | Melick | 2009 | $100 → $100 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine shows 100% of 173 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: 2020-09-28, 5 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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
173
samples
1.16
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.143 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 30 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR80
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR31
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER20
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2020-06-23, 6 years ago7.7
silica avg (%)
7
samples
11.0
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR6
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR1
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: 2020-02-18, 6 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.1%
over PEL
75
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR36
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER12
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE10
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 100% | 5 |
| 2019 | 100% | 4 |
| 2017 | 100% | 24 |
| 2016 | 100% | 19 |
| 2015 | 100% | 14 |
| 2014 | 100% | 11 |
| 2013 | 100% | 3 |
| 2012 | 100% | 19 |
| 2011 | 100% | 6 |
| 2010 | 100% | 12 |
| 2009 | 100% | 14 |
| 2008 | 100% | 9 |
| 2007 | 100% | 14 |
| 2006 | 100% | 8 |
| 2004 | 100% | 1 |
| 2003 | 100% | 5 |
| 2001 | 100% | 5 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8.7 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6.2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6.5 | 2 |
| 2007 | 10.7 | 1 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0% | 1 |
| 2019 | 0% | 2 |
| 2017 | 0% | 6 |
| 2016 | 0% | 6 |
| 2015 | 0% | 4 |
| 2014 | 0% | 4 |
| 2013 | 0% | 3 |
| 2012 | 0% | 6 |
| 2011 | 0% | 6 |
| 2010 | 14% | 7 |
| 2009 | 0% | 6 |
| 2008 | 0% | 5 |
| 2007 | 0% | 7 |
| 2006 | 0% | 7 |
| 2003 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017.
Injury rate, 2017
ⓘ
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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.48 cases per 100 workers.
In Alabama, coal mining averaged 4.27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2016 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2012 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2010 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2009 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2007 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2006 * | 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
- Uptown Motors Inc 2000 to 2006
- Quality Coal, Inc. 2006 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 11 | 41,797 |
| 2016 | 13 | 68,468 |
| 2015 | 9 | 51,332 |
| 2014 | 5 | 31,786 |
| 2013 | 10 | 71,910 |
| 2012 | 10 | 84,257 |
| 2011 | 3 | 42,977 |
| 2010 | 16 | 101,953 |
| 2009 | 22 | 111,548 |
| 2008 | 7 | 40,005 |
| 2007 | 12 | 69,203 |
| 2006 | 13 | 96,053 |
| 2005 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 4 | 4,985 |
| 2003 | 27 | 87,703 |
| 2001 | 2 | 15,700 |
| 2000 | 5 | 12,283 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mccollum/Sparks Branch Mine sits in Walker County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 3.3% 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.Walker County, Alabama · Population 64,886
3.3%
Mining share of county employment
$54,509
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 Q3 | 5,327 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 8,269 | 17 | 4 | 2055.9 |
| 2017 Q1 | 7,157 | 8 | 2 | 1117.8 |
Show 55 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Q4 | 8,764 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 9,085 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q2 | 6,942 | 7 | 4 | 1008.4 |
| 2016 Q1 | 7,291 | 4 | 1 | 548.6 |
| 2015 Q4 | 6,401 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 4,966 | 4 | 0 | 805.5 |
| 2015 Q2 | 4,356 | 1 | 0 | 229.6 |
| 2015 Q1 | 2,292 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 1,455 | 9 | 1 | 6185.6 |
| 2014 Q3 | 2,061 | 4 | 0 | 1940.8 |
| 2014 Q2 | 2,729 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 825 | 2 | 0 | 2424.2 |
| 2013 Q4 | 2,794 | 3 | 0 | 1073.7 |
| 2013 Q3 | 4,410 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q2 | 4,223 | 4 | 0 | 947.2 |
| 2013 Q1 | 5,984 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 4,495 | 5 | 1 | 1112.3 |
| 2012 Q3 | 5,478 | 3 | 1 | 547.6 |
| 2012 Q2 | 4,283 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 6,272 | 8 | 1 | 1275.5 |
| 2011 Q4 | 3,438 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 1,507 | 2 | 0 | 1327.1 |
| 2011 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 Q1 | 1,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q4 | 9,429 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 2,593 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 7,960 | 1 | 1 | 125.6 |
| 2010 Q1 | 14,129 | 7 | 1 | 495.4 |
| 2009 Q4 | 16,647 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 11,708 | 2 | 0 | 170.8 |
| 2009 Q2 | 9,912 | 2 | 0 | 201.8 |
| 2009 Q1 | 5,680 | 5 | 3 | 880.3 |
| 2008 Q3 | 3,546 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 2,672 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 3,211 | 4 | 2 | 1245.7 |
| 2007 Q4 | 11,944 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 3,477 | 9 | 7 | 2588.4 |
| 2007 Q2 | 6,092 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q1 | 8,939 | 8 | 0 | 895.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 7,966 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 8,512 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 6,760 | 3 | 0 | 443.8 |
| 2006 Q1 | 4,795 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2004 Q4 | 293 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 1,170 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 1,876 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 2,868 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 16,539 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 13,148 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q2 | 7,378 | 3 | 0 | 406.6 |
| 2001 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2001 Q1 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 2,868 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 981 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No reportable incidents on file.
MSHA has no recorded reportable accidents for this mine in the current dataset. New reports appear here within a week of being filed.