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New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC: 348 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Chase Clark Wilson
Carlsbad, Eddy County, NM  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2901785

New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC has $298K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 7 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
8
Years on record
1983–2026
Latest incident
Mar 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
348
citations
103
significant & substantial
$298,462
proposed penalties
$292,878
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $5,584 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
107
inspections on record
1,212
inspection hours
28.7
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.
348 citations across 1,212 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.
3
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2014-12-09.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC has $298K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 7 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.
$298K
proposed penalties
$294K
current assessed
$293K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
322 assessments are final orders; 7 contested dockets.
Of $58K in penalties contested before the Commission, $37K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-09.
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.
30.2%
significant & substantial
20.8%
high negligence or reckless
30.2%
reasonably likely or greater
43.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 0.9% low, 78.3% moderate, 20.5% high, 0.3% 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.
17 citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
  • Settled 14 · 82%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 12%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 6%
86%
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 14 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
37%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$58K proposed, $37K 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 2014-07-02.
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
CENT 2011-667M Settlement Miller 2011 $20K → $20K
CENT 2013-301M Withdrawal Miller 2013 $17K → $0
CENT 2010-111M Settlement Weisberger 2011 $13K → $10K
CENT 2010-112M Settlement Weisberger 2011 $4K → $3K
CENT 2014-0464 Default Lesnick 2015 $2K → $2K
CENT 2011-476M Settlement Barbour 2011 $2K → $2K
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: 2023-10-31
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
21
samples
2
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg9
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz7
  • Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz3
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (21)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2023-10-31 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.46 10 0.05 Bagging Operator
2023-10-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-10-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2023-10-31 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.62 10 0.06 Bagging Operator
2021-01-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2021-01-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Truck Driver
2021-01-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2021-01-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.35 Bagging Operator
2017-07-26 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.2 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-07-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2017-07-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2014-12-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2014-12-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2014-12-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2012-09-19 Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz 0.15 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2012-09-19 Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz 0 Truck Loader
2012-09-19 Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz 0 Cleanup Man
2011-03-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.22 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2011-03-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Welder, etc.
2011-03-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 Cleanup Man
2011-03-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 Welder, etc.
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.

New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ 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 metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In New Mexico, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.67 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
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 4.21 4.21 0.000
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 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. S P N Dismantling Inc 1979 to 1983
  2. New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC 1983 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 38
2025 42
2024 51
2023 62
2022 52
2021 46
2020 46
2019 32
2018 32
2017 36
2016 32
2015 36
2014 61
2013 37
2012 26
2011 21
2010 20
2009 14
2008 3
2007 2
2006 2
2005 2
2004 2
2003 1
2002 1
2001 2
2000 3
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC sits in Eddy County, New Mexico, where the Census mining category is 15.0% 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.
Eddy County, New Mexico · Population 61,114
15.0%
Mining share of county employment
$79,605
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 16,943 19 3 1121.4
2026 Q1 17,546 3 1 171.0
2025 Q4 19,931 6 1 301.0
2025 Q3 24,142 3 0 124.3
2025 Q2 21,813 3 1 137.5
2025 Q1 21,731 25 4 1150.4
2024 Q4 17,805 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 17,948 5 3 278.6
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 26,320 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 20,345 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 25,381 2 0 78.8
2023 Q3 27,663 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 27,950 4 0 143.1
2023 Q1 27,663 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 26,031 8 2 307.3
2022 Q3 24,793 12 3 484.0
2022 Q2 22,080 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 22,080 5 1 226.4
2021 Q4 22,080 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 22,080 11 2 498.2
2021 Q2 22,080 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 22,080 12 7 543.5
2020 Q4 22,080 1 0 45.3
2020 Q3 22,080 7 4 317.0
2020 Q2 22,080 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 22,080 2 0 90.6
2019 Q4 15,360 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 15,360 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 15,360 13 3 846.4
2019 Q1 15,360 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 15,360 3 1 195.3
2018 Q3 15,360 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 15,360 5 0 325.5
2018 Q1 15,360 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 15,360 14 5 911.5
2017 Q3 15,360 8 2 520.8
2017 Q2 15,360 1 0 65.1
2017 Q1 23,520 1 0 42.5
2016 Q4 15,360 9 3 585.9
2016 Q3 15,360 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 15,840 11 3 694.4
2016 Q1 15,360 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 15,360 10 4 651.0
2015 Q3 15,360 5 1 325.5
2015 Q2 16,800 3 1 178.6
2015 Q1 21,600 3 0 138.9
2014 Q4 25,440 5 3 196.5
2014 Q3 28,320 2 1 70.6
2014 Q2 32,640 8 5 245.1
2014 Q1 30,240 3 1 99.2
2013 Q4 21,600 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 18,240 4 1 219.3
2013 Q2 20,160 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 11,520 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 16,800 1 1 59.5
2012 Q3 11,040 3 1 271.7
2012 Q2 10,560 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 10,560 6 3 568.2
2011 Q4 13,920 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 10,560 12 3 1136.4
2011 Q2 8,160 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 5,760 6 4 1041.7
2010 Q4 8,160 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 10,080 4 1 396.8
2010 Q2 9,120 1 1 109.6
2010 Q1 10,560 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 10,080 12 9 1190.5
2009 Q3 7,680 13 10 1692.7
2009 Q2 4,800 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,840 3 0 781.2
2008 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 960 6 0 6250.0
2008 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 480 1 1 2083.3
2007 Q4 480 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 480 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 960 3 0 3125.0
2006 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 960 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 960 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 960 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 480 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 480 2 0 4166.7
2003 Q3 480 3 0 6250.0
2003 Q2 480 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 960 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 580 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 480 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 480 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 480 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 960 2 0 2083.3
2001 Q3 960 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 960 1 0 1041.7
2001 Q1 1,440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 1,440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 1,440 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 1,440 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

8 on file

2026 · 1 incident

March 30, 2026 NM · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured Employee was assisting with a belt change when EE's glove was caught between the belt and the pulley, resulting in a fractured finger and an torn nail, exposing the nailbed.

2022 · 3 incidents

December 8, 2022 NM · Metal/Non-Metal EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Employee locked out electrical pump panel to do maintenance on machine. When employee returned to unlock and turn on pump panel, the panel exploded. Employee was exposed to minor flash from the electrical current.

November 7, 2022 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee put fingers on back of belt to hot air sealer to check the temperature and the belt caught the right index finger.

April 11, 2022 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was cleaning a dust trap at the big dryer and as employee pulled the tray out, the metal cut left index finger.

2015 · 1 incident

August 3, 2015 NM · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
New Mexico Salt & Minerals LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working under dryer shoveling.

1987 · 1 incident

1983 · 2 incidents

June 22, 1983 NM · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver MACHINERY
S P N Dismantling Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING FEED HOPPER AND GOT HAND CAUGHT IN GRINDING TEETH BADLY CUT FIRST TWO FINGERS ON RIGHT HAND

June 18, 1983 NM · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
S P N Dismantling Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WALKED THROUGH OFFICE RATHER FAST AND SLIPPED ON FLOOR AND TURNED ANKLE. HE REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS HE DID NOT THINK HE WAS HURT. ON 6-19-83 ANKLE BECAME WOLLEN AND HAD X-RAY TAKEN.