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MONTEZUMA COUNTY: 94 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Montezuma County-Co
Cortez, CO, Montezuma County, CO  ·  Temporarily Idled
MSHA Mine ID: 0504146

MONTEZUMA COUNTY has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
7
Years on record
1987–2023
Latest incident
Oct 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
94
citations
32
significant & substantial
$14,187
proposed penalties
$14,187
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Montezuma County Road Department's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
44
inspections on record
715
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: 715 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 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.
$14K
proposed penalties
$14K
current assessed
$14K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
94 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $143 in penalties contested before the Commission, $143 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-05-13.
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.
34.0%
significant & substantial
10.6%
high negligence or reckless
34.0%
reasonably likely or greater
59.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 5.3% low, 84.0% moderate, 10.6% 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.
1 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 100%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$143 proposed, $143 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 2023-01-25.
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
WEST 2023-0105 Settlement 2023 $143 → $143
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: 2024-10-15
11%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
19
samples
9
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz101 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg9
Show the individual readings (19)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2015-06-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.19 1.07 1.11 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-10-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 Utility Man
2024-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2022-11-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.57 0.65 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2022-11-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-11-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.6 0.32 Supervisor, Co. Official
2020-04-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-04-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-08-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-08-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 0.73 0.67 Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-06-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.4 0.91 0.44 Crusher Oper/Worker
2010-03-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.35 1.26 0.28 Crusher Oper/Worker
2010-03-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-05-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 0.76 0.50 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-05-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-05-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.88 0.24 Front-end Loader Operator
2003-10-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.54 0.50 Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-05-31 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. Montezuma County Road Department 1986 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 0
2025 2
2024 3
2023 3
2022 3
2021 3
2020 3
2019 3
2018 3
2017 3
2016 3
2015 3
2014 3
2013 3
2012 3
2011 3
2010 3
2009 3
2008 4
2007 4
2006 4
2005 3
2004 4
2003 4
2002 5
2001 5
2000 4
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY sits in Montezuma County, Colorado, where the Census mining category is 2.5% 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.
Montezuma County, Colorado · Population 26,204
2.5%
Mining share of county employment
$63,005
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 950 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 960 2 1 2083.3
2025 Q1 810 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 1,110 3 0 2702.7
2024 Q3 1,050 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 930 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 580 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 690 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,404 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 900 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 320 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 570 2 1 3508.8
2022 Q3 570 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 690 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 540 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 450 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 1,020 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 780 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 990 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,140 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 990 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 900 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,050 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 510 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 1,200 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 270 3 1 11111.1
2019 Q1 996 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 810 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 450 2 0 4444.4
2018 Q2 1,320 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 600 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 990 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 1,170 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 1,110 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 713 2 0 2805.0
2016 Q4 693 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 1,110 1 0 900.9
2016 Q2 990 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 732 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 480 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 780 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 840 6 3 7142.9
2015 Q1 780 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 960 6 2 6250.0
2014 Q3 870 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 720 1 0 1388.9
2014 Q1 960 1 0 1041.7
2013 Q4 720 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 720 1 0 1388.9
2013 Q2 690 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 750 2 2 2666.7
2012 Q4 930 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 780 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 1,020 1 0 980.4
2012 Q1 1,020 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 870 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,230 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 960 3 2 3125.0
2011 Q1 1,260 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 720 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 660 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 780 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,040 2 0 1923.1
2009 Q4 1,040 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 990 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 690 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,040 2 0 1923.1
2008 Q4 560 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 1,160 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 680 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 1,040 4 1 3846.2
2007 Q4 720 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 1,240 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 1,360 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 840 17 6 20238.1
2006 Q4 1,240 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 1,440 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 1,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 1,760 5 0 2840.9
2005 Q4 720 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 1,280 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 1,320 7 0 5303.0
2005 Q1 0 0 0
2004 Q4 1,480 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 1,680 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 1,160 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 1,400 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 1,480 3 3 2027.0
2003 Q3 800 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,560 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 750 2 2 2666.7
2002 Q4 800 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 1,500 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 1,200 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 1,600 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 2,000 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 1,850 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 1,270 6 3 4724.4
2001 Q1 800 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 720 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 1,160 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 960 10 5 10416.7
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

7 on file

2023 · 1 incident

1990 · 2 incidents

November 6, 1990 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Montezuma County Road Department · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

REMOVING MOTORS.

April 26, 1990 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Montezuma County Road Department · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ROCK FELL BETWEEN BELT AND FRAME. OPERATOR TURNED OFF BELT, WENT TO REMOVE ROCK. OPERATOR TURNED BELT BACK ON, ANOTHER ROCK HIT HIM, KNOCKED HIM OFF HIS FEET AND RIB HIT DUAL TIRES. BROKE 7TH RIB ON RIGHT SIDE.

1989 · 2 incidents

February 2, 1989 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Montezuma County Road Department · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

CLEANING CRUSHER SCREEN WITH IRON BAR.

1988 · 1 incident

November 21, 1988 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Montezuma County Road Department · Over-exertion in lifting objects

LIFTING FROZEN OBJECT OFF OF CONVEYOR BELT.

1987 · 1 incident

July 29, 1987 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Montezuma County Road Department · Struck by falling object

REMOVING SCREENS FROM INVENTORY IN DOG HOUSE. SCREENS FELL OVER ON INDIVIDUAL (WERE NOT TIED UP)