Nora Preparation Plant has $65K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
1984–2008
Latest incident
Apr 2008
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
338
citations
177
significant & substantial
$64,673
proposed penalties
$63,423
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,250 gap.
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.
338 citations across 2,496 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Nora Preparation Plant has $65K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 2 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.
$65K
proposed penalties
$65K
current assessed
$63K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
334 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-02-20.
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.
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.
2citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Stood as issued
2 · 100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$132 proposed, $132 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 2005-04-08.
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.
MSHA sampling at Nora Preparation Plant shows 99% of 97 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: 2009-04-16, 17 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
97
samples
1.65
dust max (mg/m3)
97 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER19
REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE13
CLEANING PLANT OPERATOR11
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.
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.
Nora Preparation Plant recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009.
Injury rate, 2009
ⓘ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 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.22 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
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
4.12
4.12
0.000
2007 *
7.54
7.54
0.000
2006 *
3.72
3.72
0.000
2005 *
5.10
5.10
0.000
2004 *
6.39
6.39
0.000
2001 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2000 *
9.55
9.55
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2022
1
2021
1
2020
1
2019
1
2018
1
2017
1
2016
1
2015
1
2014
1
2013
2
2012
2
2011
4
2010
4
2009
10
2008
22
2007
18
2006
19
2005
16
2004
12
2003
9
2002
9
2001
11
2000
9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Nora Preparation Plant sits in Dickenson County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 9.8% 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.
Dickenson County, Virginia · Population 13,920
9.8%
Mining share of county employment
$43,831
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
2022 Q2
600
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
600
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
300
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
300
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
300
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
300
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
300
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
300
0
0
0.0
Show 82 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2020 Q2
600
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
600
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
600
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
580
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
0
0
0
2019 Q1
0
0
0
2018 Q4
0
0
0
2018 Q3
0
0
0
2018 Q2
660
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
630
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
600
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
580
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
630
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
370
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
370
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
610
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
840
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
470
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
590
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
570
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
640
1
0
1562.5
2015 Q1
628
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
696
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
635
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
640
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
595
1
0
1680.7
2013 Q4
741
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
1,009
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
1,030
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
1,250
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
264
3
2
11363.6
2012 Q3
422
2
1
4739.3
2012 Q2
1,547
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
1,412
2
1
1416.4
2011 Q4
1,097
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
1,820
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
1,592
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
737
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
1,419
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
1,717
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
1,451
2
1
1378.4
2010 Q1
2,621
1
0
381.5
2009 Q4
2,523
4
0
1585.4
2009 Q3
4,210
3
1
712.6
2009 Q2
7,126
15
3
2105.0
2009 Q1
8,805
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
10,236
10
6
976.9
2008 Q3
9,176
18
10
1961.6
2008 Q2
14,470
3
1
207.3
2008 Q1
14,617
8
5
547.3
2007 Q4
14,918
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
11,090
18
9
1623.1
2007 Q2
12,964
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
14,077
8
8
568.3
2006 Q4
14,569
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
15,884
28
15
1762.8
2006 Q2
11,365
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
11,933
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
10,885
27
13
2480.5
2005 Q3
9,591
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
10,527
5
3
475.0
2005 Q1
8,244
1
1
121.3
2004 Q4
7,160
3
0
419.0
2004 Q3
8,699
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
7,908
18
8
2276.2
2004 Q1
7,539
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
5,239
13
11
2481.4
2003 Q3
5,014
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
4,183
2
2
478.1
2003 Q1
5,197
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
4,574
2
1
437.3
2002 Q3
3,895
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
4,730
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
5,847
2
1
342.1
2001 Q4
5,453
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
7,257
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
6,134
2
2
326.1
2001 Q1
6,887
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
5,090
2
1
392.9
2000 Q3
5,530
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
5,162
1
0
193.7
2000 Q1
5,152
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
21 on file
2008 · 1 incident
April 22, 2008VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Employee was pressurer washing a skid loader when his right hand came in contact with the washer wand causing a laceration to the top wrist area of the right hand. Due to complications he missed work on 4-28-2008.
Employee was pulling a water hose down a set of steps in the sample building when he slipped and fell hitting the steps with his butt. Due to complications he started missing work on August 14, 2007.
May 16, 2007VA · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was exiting the thickener site and five steps from the ground he slipped and fell on his rear and rolled to the ground causing a deep bruise to his tail bone.
2006 · 1 incident
January 6, 2006VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was prying on an old pump bracket with a pry bar for a cyclone pump when he felt a pain in the center of his back.
2005 · 2 incidents
September 1, 2005VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techEXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Employee was pulling check valve out of a hydraulic control valve on a 313 Excavator that had high pressure oil in it. When the valve was pulled, the pressure cut left index finger, which allowed oil to enter his finger. Went to ER but only was given an Rx, no stitches and was released back to work.
Employee was using a chain hoist to lift a facing from a water pump and magnetite fell from the chain and into his eyes. First day of missing work was 9/9/05. Employee notified us on 9/16/05 that he had employment with another employer and that he had quit his job with us.
2004 · 1 incident
February 18, 2004VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rapoca Group LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE WAS HELPING INSTALL A NEW SLIEVE ON A CHUTE WHEN THE PIECE OF METAL HE WAS HOLDING SLIPPED AND CAUGHT HIS FINGER BETWEEN ANOTHER PIECE OF METAL.
ON THE AFTERNOON ON APRIL 21, 2003, EE INFORMED ME THAT HIS BACK WAS HURTING. HE WAS WORKING ON THE BRAKES OF A 350C PAYHOULDER DUMP TRUCK. WHEN ASKED IF HE WANTED TO FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT, HE STATED THAT HE COULDN'T REMEMBER DOING ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO HAVE HURT HIS BACK & THAT IT WOULD BE OK. HE MISSED THE NEXT DAY OF WORK & WENT TO DR. MRI SHOWED RUPTERED & HERNIATED DISC IN BA
March 19, 2003VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS CLOSING RAILROAD CAR DOORS WHEN THE BAR USED TO SHUT DOORS SLIPPED OUT OF LATCH WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FALL THAT RESULTED IN FRACTURE OF THE RIGHT ANKLE.
1988 · 3 incidents
July 12, 1988VA · Coaltipple/top lander/skip dumper operator, binman, topmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
SAID EMPLOYEE WAS BENDING OVER TO PICK UP A PIECE OF METAL WHEN SAID EMPLOYEE STARTED TO RAISE UP WITH METAL SAID EMPLOYEE'S BACK GAVE OUT AND SAID EMPLOYEE HAD TO DROP SAID METAL
SAID EMPL WAS LOCING 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN PULLED OUT. 4 WHEEL DRIVE KICKED OUT LETTING TRUCK ROLL BACK INTO POND. ROAD WAS SLICK WET WHERE WE HAD WATERED DOWN TO KEEP DUST DOWN.
February 20, 1988VA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS