Dominion Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries
A sand stone slab fell between #4 and #5 entries approx. 18' x 20' - #4 entry was cribbed at the intersection and had 8 Heintzman jacks set along travel way.
Mine No. 26: 537 MSHA citations Coal
Dominion Coal Corporation
· Underground
Controlled by
SunCoke Energy Incorporated
JEWELL RIDGE,
Buchanan County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4406718
Mine No. 26 has $250K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 30 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 7
- Years on record
- 2010–2013
- Latest incident
- Apr 2013
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
537
citations
220
significant & substantial
$249,902
proposed penalties
$223,664
paid to date
90% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $26,238 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2004
90
inspections on record
4,100
inspection hours
13.1
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.537 citations across 4,100 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Mine No. 26 has $250K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 30 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.$250K
proposed penalties
$225K
current assessed
$224K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
529 assessments are final orders; 30 contested dockets.
Of $122K in penalties contested before the Commission, $96K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-06-30.
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.41.6%
significant & substantial
1.1%
high negligence or reckless
41.2%
reasonably likely or greater
7.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 8.7% low, 90.2% moderate, 1.1% 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.
88
citations taken to the federal commission · 16% of citations on record
- Settled 68 · 77%
- Stood as issued 19 · 22%
- Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 1%
97%
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 79 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$122K proposed, $96K 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 2014-08-27.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA 2012-219 | Settlement | Paez | 2012 | $11K → $8K |
| VA 2012-161 | Settlement | Paez | 2013 | $10K → $7K |
| VA 2013-7 | Settlement | Rae | 2013 | $8K → $7K |
| VA 2011-22 | Default | Lesnick | 2011 | $8K → $8K |
| VA 2011-360 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2012 | $7K → $6K |
| VA 2011-170 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2015 | $7K → $6K |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Mine No. 26 shows 92% of 407 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: 2012-09-13, 13 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.92%
within 1.5 mg/m3
407
samples
3.92
dust max (mg/m3)
155 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 252 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR180
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)36
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)9
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2012-06-25, 14 years ago6.7
silica avg (%)
23
samples
20.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR9
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: 2011-11-15, 14 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.0%
over PEL
29
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)9
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR5
- ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (INTAKE SIDE)3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 92% | 53 |
| 2011 | 93% | 74 |
| 2010 | 96% | 100 |
| 2009 | 94% | 81 |
| 2008 | 87% | 71 |
| 2007 | 75% | 16 |
| 2006 | 100% | 12 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5.3 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3.8 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5.7 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8.6 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6.6 | 1 |
| 2007 | 12.7 | 2 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0% | 6 |
| 2010 | 0% | 6 |
| 2009 | 0% | 6 |
| 2008 | 0% | 11 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Mine No. 26 recorded 3.26 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.3.26
total case rate
3.26
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 Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.61 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 * | 3.26 | 3.26 | 0.000 |
| 2011 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2010 | 1.91 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2009 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2008 * | 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
- Dominion Coal Corporation 1992 to present
- Vandyke Mining, Inc. 2006 to 2007
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 | |
| 2012 | 24 | 66,469 |
| 2011 | 40 | 153,730 |
| 2010 | 37 | 152,264 |
| 2009 | 21 | 112,250 |
| 2008 | 11 | 69,218 |
| 2007 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 0 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Mine No. 26 sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Q4 | 868 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q3 | 987 | 1 | 1 | 1013.2 |
| 2013 Q2 | 584 | 5 | 1 | 8561.6 |
| 2013 Q1 | 755 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 574 | 6 | 0 | 10453.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 17,127 | 28 | 14 | 1634.8 |
| 2012 Q2 | 15,813 | 24 | 8 | 1517.7 |
| 2012 Q1 | 27,909 | 19 | 12 | 680.8 |
Show 23 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Q4 | 25,838 | 47 | 25 | 1819.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 24,814 | 17 | 3 | 685.1 |
| 2011 Q2 | 23,172 | 14 | 3 | 604.2 |
| 2011 Q1 | 24,619 | 25 | 8 | 1015.5 |
| 2010 Q4 | 29,629 | 34 | 12 | 1147.5 |
| 2010 Q3 | 24,399 | 53 | 30 | 2172.2 |
| 2010 Q2 | 27,844 | 61 | 37 | 2190.8 |
| 2010 Q1 | 22,769 | 38 | 16 | 1668.9 |
| 2009 Q4 | 16,836 | 38 | 13 | 2257.1 |
| 2009 Q3 | 10,956 | 17 | 6 | 1551.7 |
| 2009 Q2 | 13,149 | 8 | 5 | 608.4 |
| 2009 Q1 | 11,426 | 8 | 2 | 700.2 |
| 2008 Q4 | 11,464 | 13 | 1 | 1134.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 6,616 | 22 | 5 | 3325.3 |
| 2008 Q2 | 5,244 | 17 | 3 | 3241.8 |
| 2008 Q1 | 1,209 | 11 | 3 | 9098.4 |
| 2007 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file2013 · 1 incident
2012 · 2 incidents
August 24, 2012
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dominion Coal Corporation · Fall onto or against objects
A 3rd shift crew was assigned to advance the belt one break. They had trammed the feeder out of the way and were in the process of moving the feeder cable when an ee pulling the feeder cable received a shock from a damaged shuttle car cable laying on the muddy mine floor in the #4 crosscut. As a result of the shock the ee fell to the mine floor striking his back on 3 crib blocks.
Dominion Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries
A roof fall was discovered during the pre-shift exam on 03/04/12. The fall is located near spad 1071. The fall measured 50 feet x 18 feet x 8 feet in thickness and was laminated shell roof. No escapeways or aircourses are blocked.
2011 · 2 incidents
Dominion Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries
A ROOF FALL was discovered two breaks outby survey station 929 between the #6 & #7 entries. The fall measured 70' in length, 20' in width and 9 to 11 feet in thickness. The area was bolted with 42" resin bolts, 48" resin & 10' cable bolts were installed as additional support. Timbers & danger signs were installed to prevent access to this area.
Dominion Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries
A ROOF FALL was discovered on the 4th south panel. The fall is located across from spad #847 in the neutral entry intersection. The fall measures approximately 60 feet in length, 19-20 feet in width and 8 feet in thickness. The fall does not block ventilation or impede escapeway travel.
2010 · 2 incidents
Dominion Coal Corporation · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
During the process of coupling a supply car to a scoop, the employee's ring finger on his right hand was caught between the coupling pin and the bumper of the scoop, resulting in a laceration.
Dominion Coal Corporation · Accident type, without injuries
A ROOF FALL was discovered in the No. 5 Entry at survey station No. 454. The fall occurred in an intersection and measured approximately 20' wide X 24' long X 5' - 8' thick.