Mining Incidents

Mountaineer #1: 47 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by Robert George Koval
Shanksville, Somerset County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3608501

Mountaineer #1 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
2
Years on record
2016–2017
Latest incident
Mar 2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
47
citations
9
significant & substantial
$5,785
proposed penalties
$5,785
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
84
inspections on record
1,461
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.
47 citations across 1,461 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: 2019-03-06.
On record since 2019.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Mountaineer #1 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$6K
current assessed
$6K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
45 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-05-24.
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.
20.0%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
20.0%
reasonably likely or greater
24.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 40.0% low, 60.0% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Mountaineer #1 shows 100% of 226 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: 2023-05-24, 3 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
226
samples
0.72
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.
164 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 62 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR95
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR38
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER31

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2019-03-06, 7 years ago
6.8
silica avg (%)
5
samples
12.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR2
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER1
  • HIGHWALL DRILL 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: 2023-05-24, 3 years ago
7%
over PEL
90
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR28
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR23
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER20
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
2023 100% 4
2020 100% 10
2019 100% 26
2018 100% 22
2017 100% 26
2016 100% 23
2015 100% 18
2014 100% 11
2013 100% 5
2012 100% 9
2011 100% 9
2010 100% 2
2009 100% 5
2008 100% 8
2007 100% 8
2006 100% 7
2005 100% 10
2004 100% 4
2003 100% 6
2002 100% 3
2001 100% 5
2000 100% 5
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2019 3.4 1
2018 3.8 1
2017 5.1 1
2011 8.9 1
2003 12.9 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2023 0% 4
2020 0% 3
2019 0% 5
2018 0% 2
2017 0% 9
2016 0% 6
2015 0% 5
2014 0% 5
2012 0% 5
2011 22% 9
2010 0% 2
2009 0% 2
2008 0% 3
2007 0% 5
2006 0% 3
2005 14% 7
2004 0% 1
2003 17% 6
2001 25% 4
2000 25% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Mountaineer #1 recorded 9.93 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2016.

Injury rate, 2016
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.
9.93
total case rate
9.93
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 4.32 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
2016 * 9.93 9.93 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 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
  1. Mountaineer Mining Corporation 1995 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)
2023 4
2022 2
2020 2 3,707
2019 8 49,080
2018 8 47,151
2017 8 51,299
2016 10 45,879
2015 11 44,404
2014 12 55,028
2013 12 51,664
2012 11 56,305
2011 6 26,239
2010 5 11,336
2009 6 18,867
2008 6 29,258
2007 6 23,780
2006 8 67,143
2005 8 42,697
2004 6 30,357
2003 6 26,375
2002 5 24,030
2001 6 36,817
2000 5 19,268
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mountaineer #1 sits in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.6% 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.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania · Population 73,255
1.6%
Mining share of county employment
$59,378
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
2023 Q4 203 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 572 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 637 1 0 1569.9
2022 Q4 48 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 2 0
2020 Q1 2,626 1 0 380.8
Show 80 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2019 Q4 4,037 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 4,434 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,872 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,697 4 3 1082.0
2018 Q4 3,366 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 4,155 1 0 240.7
2018 Q2 3,481 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 4,261 1 0 234.7
2017 Q4 4,026 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 4,993 3 0 600.8
2017 Q2 4,515 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,913 2 0 407.1
2016 Q4 4,042 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,335 3 0 562.3
2016 Q2 5,812 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 4,950 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 5,707 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,028 1 0 198.9
2015 Q2 6,368 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 4,321 1 0 231.4
2014 Q4 6,181 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 5,163 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 6,449 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,675 2 0 427.8
2013 Q4 5,373 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 4,900 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 5,494 2 2 364.0
2013 Q1 4,172 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 4,851 4 1 824.6
2012 Q3 4,422 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 4,955 1 0 201.8
2012 Q1 4,299 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 4,551 3 0 659.2
2011 Q3 3,290 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 1,445 2 0 1384.1
2011 Q1 0 0 0
2010 Q4 1,069 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 1,860 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 1,458 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,959 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 2,445 2 1 818.0
2009 Q3 2,355 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 2,264 1 0 441.7
2009 Q1 2,106 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 2,972 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 2,913 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 2,441 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 2,248 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 1,897 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 2,390 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 2,422 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 2,552 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 2,212 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,973 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 2,987 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,526 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,454 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,124 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 3,381 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 2,913 2 0 686.6
2004 Q4 2,532 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 2,974 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 2,004 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 1,419 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 1,887 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 2,191 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 2,319 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 1,437 2 1 1391.8
2002 Q4 2,262 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 2,174 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 2,079 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 1,518 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 3,659 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 2,649 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 2,873 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 1,891 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 1,384 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 1,511 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 1,919 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 820 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

2 on file

2017 · 1 incident

March 15, 2017 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver OTHER
Mountaineer Mining Corporation · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Sitting in tractor & trailer waiting to get loaded and (2) employees found driver unresponsive in the truck. Ambulance was called and the individual was transported to Somerset Hospital and pronounced dead at hospital.

2016 · 1 incident

August 29, 2016 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mountaineer Mining Corporation · Struck by flying object

Driving track pin with sledge hammer, sliver of metal from pin entered knee joint