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Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant: 95 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by Haghler LLC
Rupert, Greenbrier County, WV  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4609125

Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant has $45K in proposed MSHA penalties and $12K outstanding across 8 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2007–2022
Latest incident
Aug 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
95
citations
31
significant & substantial
$45,346
proposed penalties
$27,366
paid to date
60% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $17,980 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2006
73
inspections on record
3,496
inspection hours
2.7
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.
95 citations across 3,496 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant has $45K in proposed MSHA penalties and $12K outstanding across 8 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.
$45K
proposed penalties
$39K
current assessed
$27K
paid to date
$12K
outstanding
90 assessments are final orders; 8 contested dockets.
Of $15K in penalties contested before the Commission, $9K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-15.
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.
33.7%
significant & substantial
5.4%
high negligence or reckless
33.7%
reasonably likely or greater
26.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.1% none, 17.4% low, 76.1% moderate, 5.4% 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.
15 citations taken to the federal commission · 16% of citations on record
  • Settled 12 · 80%
  • Stood as issued 3 · 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 10 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
42%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$15K proposed, $9K 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 2026-04-28.
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
WEVA 2008-1642 Settlement Feldman 2010 $6K → $3K
WEVA 2009-120 Settlement Bulluck 2010 $4K → $1K
WEVA 2008-723 Default Lesnick 2010 $2K → $2K
WEVA 2018-0232 Settlement Lesnick 2018 $1K → $805
WEVA 2013-340 Settlement Lesnick 2014 $920 → $920
WEVA 2008-724 Settlement Lesnick 2010 $788 → $788
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant shows 100% of 212 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: 2026-06-11
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
212
samples
1.03
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.
174 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 38 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR62
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER31
  • CLEANING PLANT OPERATOR26

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2017-11-02, 8 years ago
8.5
silica avg (%)
1
samples
8.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR1
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: 2026-03-10
4%
over PEL
112
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER23
  • UTILITY MAN18
  • CLEANING PLANT OPERATOR14
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
2026 100% 10
2025 100% 10
2024 100% 10
2023 100% 11
2022 100% 8
2021 100% 15
2020 100% 6
2019 100% 9
2018 100% 12
2017 100% 13
2016 100% 20
2015 100% 13
2014 100% 14
2013 100% 10
2012 100% 15
2011 100% 9
2010 100% 5
2009 100% 14
2008 100% 8
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 5
2025 0% 4
2024 0% 4
2021 0% 8
2020 0% 5
2018 0% 5
2017 20% 10
2016 0% 5
2015 0% 7
2014 0% 15
2013 7% 15
2012 0% 10
2011 0% 5
2009 0% 10
2008 25% 4
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019.

Injury rate, 2019
ⓘ 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
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.51 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
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 3.31 3.31 0.000
2013 * 3.33 3.33 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 6.06 3.03 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. Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining, LLC 2005 to 2007
  2. West Virginia Mine Power, Inc 2007 to 2013
  3. Greenbrier Minerals LLC 2013 to 2025
  4. Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining LLC 2025 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 5
2025 4
2024 6
2023 5
2022 3
2021 2
2020 4
2019 11
2018 12
2017 12
2016 8
2015 13
2014 29
2013 25
2012 44
2011 29
2010 22
2009 10
2008 9
2007 0
2006 0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mountaineer Pocahontas No 1 Prep Plant sits in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 1.7% 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.
Greenbrier County, West Virginia · Population 32,688
1.7%
Mining share of county employment
$48,662
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 2,647 1 0 377.8
2026 Q1 3,575 1 0 279.7
2025 Q4 2,860 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 2,553 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 2,210 3 0 1357.5
2025 Q1 2,480 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 3,020 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 3,640 0 0 0.0
Show 72 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,473 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 3,360 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 2,648 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 3,622 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 4,010 1 0 249.4
2023 Q1 1,656 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 1,401 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,553 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 1,517 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 1,584 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 2,334 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 2,673 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 1,248 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 680 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 520 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 670 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 640 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 7,514 1 0 133.1
2019 Q4 6,523 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 7,945 1 0 125.9
2019 Q2 8,093 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 7,632 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 7,017 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 8,264 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 8,868 2 0 225.5
2018 Q1 7,990 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 7,801 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 6,949 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 8,113 1 0 123.3
2017 Q1 7,481 1 0 133.7
2016 Q4 4,254 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 4,021 1 0 248.7
2016 Q2 3,419 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 5,517 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 8,293 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 9,662 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 10,413 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 10,776 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 4,665 6 0 1286.2
2014 Q3 19,029 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 19,478 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 17,261 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 9,343 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 8,595 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 18,939 4 1 211.2
2013 Q1 23,135 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 21,056 4 2 190.0
2012 Q3 5,790 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 28,017 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 33,974 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 11,366 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 27,722 4 1 144.3
2011 Q2 2,477 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 24,468 1 0 40.9
2010 Q4 21,027 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 19,787 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 14,360 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 13,386 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 9,514 2 0 210.2
2009 Q3 8,301 1 0 120.5
2009 Q2 7,114 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 10,172 2 1 196.6
2008 Q4 8,427 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 8,176 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 6,988 1 0 143.1
2008 Q1 2,751 2 0 727.0
2007 Q4 0 0 0
2007 Q3 0 0 0
2007 Q2 0 11 6
2007 Q1 0 0 0
2006 Q4 0 0 0
2006 Q3 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

16 on file

2022 · 2 incidents

August 6, 2022 WV · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor MACHINERY
Greenbrier Minerals LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting welding lead with grinder. The grinder kicked back and cut employee's left thumb, resulting in five stitches to left thumb.

June 20, 2022 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Greenbrier Minerals LLC · Fall onto or against objects

While dumping loaded truck, part of the load came out of the back of the trailer, when bed jack reached 2.5 to 3 stage the trailer went over onto the passenger side pulling tractor over onto its side, driver stated they were fine until they unbuckled seatbelt and wasn't able to hold their weight and fell to passenger side of truck.

2018 · 1 incident

December 27, 2018 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Greenbrier Minerals LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Pulled on tailgate to clean bottom rail and slipped on ice. Tailgate came back to closed position and smashed left hand.

2015 · 1 incident

October 27, 2015 WV · Coal steel worker, iron metal worker, iron worker DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Greenbrier Minerals LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Received notice on 5-12-16 that an employee has filed a hearing loss claim and been deemed compensable, ee last exposure prior to claim was 10-27-15

2014 · 1 incident

September 29, 2014 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Greenbrier Minerals LLC · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

EE was swinging a 15 LB. sledge hammer while attempting to free a bearing out of the tailgate of a A-40 D Artic Truck when he felt a sharp pain in abdomen. Result of injury was a hernia.

2013 · 1 incident

May 9, 2013 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Standing on a material screen removing a rock from the shoot when his foot slipped and he fell on his right hip.

2012 · 1 incident

August 22, 2012 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec MACHINERY
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employees states that he was impacting bolts and the swivel on the impact swung around and caught his finger, tearing his glove and cutting the ring finger on his left hand. Employee received 4 stitches at a medical facility and was released to full duty the same day.

2011 · 3 incidents

December 8, 2011 WV · Coal security guard, watchman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Security guard was found on the sidewalk and stated that he slipped on sidewalk and injured left arm,jaw,back of head.

August 5, 2011 WV · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee caught right forearm on an old weld resulting in a laceration. Not aware of stitches or medical treatment until 8/22/11. Employee continued to work.

2009 · 2 incidents

August 13, 2009 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee states he was moving steel plates on take-up and smashed his left ring finger between pieces of plate suffering a laceration. Employee was taken off work pending surgical consult to remove bone fragments from the top of finger.

August 4, 2009 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee states he suffered a sprain to his left wrist when he was throwing conveyor idlers across a beltline. Employee received medical treatment and was placed on modified duty.

2007 · 4 incidents

July 18, 2007 WV · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was walking on welded angle and fell when angle weld broke. Employee suffered cervical sprain when he fell. He was wearing proper safety equipment and did not fall completely to the ground.

April 13, 2007 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec OTHER
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee suffered low back pain/muscle strain as he bent over to put on safety harness.

April 2, 2007 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
West Virginia Mine Power, Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

A platform collapsed and fell approx. 28 feet. An employee on the platform was injured in the fall.