Mining Incidents

Prep Plant Coal

Montana Bakken, LLC · Surface
Controlled by Douglas Warriner
Pathfork, Harlan County, KY  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 1504331

Prep Plant has $285K in proposed MSHA penalties and $116K outstanding across 49 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
38
Years on record
1984–2019
Latest incident
Mar 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
744
citations
372
significant & substantial
$284,568
proposed penalties
$95,223
paid to date
33% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $189,345 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
197
inspections on record
3,952
inspection hours
18.8
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.
744 citations across 3,952 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Prep Plant has $285K in proposed MSHA penalties and $116K outstanding across 49 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.
$285K
proposed penalties
$212K
current assessed
$95K
paid to date
$116K
outstanding
713 assessments are final orders; 49 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-05-16.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Prep Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.53 mg/m3 (98% compliant) across 224 samples.

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.
0.53
dust avg (mg/m3)
5.62
dust max (mg/m3)
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
224
samples
Most recent sample: 2017-03-23.
Silica (quartz)
4.4
silica avg (%)
30.8
silica max (%)
32
samples
Most recent sample: 2011-07-05.
Noise
23%
over PEL
98
samples
Most recent sample: 2017-06-27.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2025 Q4 0 0 0
2025 Q3 0 0 0
2025 Q2 0 1 0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 0 4 0
2024 Q3 0 0 0
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
Show 89 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 0 0 0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 0 0 0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 0 0 0
2021 Q3 0 0 0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 0 2 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 1 0
2020 Q1 0 1 0
2019 Q4 0 4 0
2019 Q3 0 2 2
2019 Q2 0 1 0
2019 Q1 884 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 884 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 884 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 884 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 884 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 884 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 884 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 884 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 884 1 0 1131.2
2016 Q4 269 2 0 7434.9
2015 Q1 80 1 0 12500.0
2014 Q4 80 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 70 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 60 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 60 2 0 33333.3
2013 Q4 52 1 0 19230.8
2013 Q3 0 0 0
2013 Q2 1,221 1 0 819.0
2013 Q1 4,141 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 4,155 1 0 240.7
2012 Q3 4,644 1 0 215.3
2012 Q2 10,493 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 11,610 6 4 516.8
2011 Q4 8,370 1 0 119.5
2011 Q3 11,365 2 1 176.0
2011 Q2 15,635 59 30 3773.6
2011 Q1 17,504 31 16 1771.0
2010 Q4 16,430 1 0 60.9
2010 Q3 17,164 19 13 1107.0
2010 Q2 18,079 1 0 55.3
2010 Q1 14,929 10 0 669.8
2009 Q4 13,126 20 3 1523.7
2009 Q3 22,076 15 4 679.5
2009 Q2 17,853 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 12,584 17 5 1350.9
2008 Q4 14,114 1 0 70.9
2008 Q3 14,559 61 27 4189.8
2008 Q2 17,532 21 8 1197.8
2008 Q1 16,510 27 19 1635.4
2007 Q4 16,270 35 19 2151.2
2007 Q3 16,384 7 4 427.2
2007 Q2 18,234 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 15,866 45 19 2836.3
2006 Q4 16,383 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 14,912 54 18 3621.2
2006 Q2 16,059 4 2 249.1
2006 Q1 13,503 38 19 2814.2
2005 Q3 13,448 6 5 446.2
2005 Q2 17,038 48 44 2817.2
2005 Q1 17,788 38 26 2136.3
2004 Q4 17,807 1 0 56.2
2004 Q3 14,552 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 16,111 10 1 620.7
2004 Q1 15,759 16 10 1015.3
2003 Q4 15,809 13 5 822.3
2003 Q3 14,100 3 3 212.8
2003 Q2 16,013 28 22 1748.6
2003 Q1 13,192 9 9 682.2
2002 Q4 13,376 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 13,484 28 10 2076.5
2002 Q2 15,223 1 0 65.7
2002 Q1 16,295 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 15,479 8 3 516.8
2001 Q3 14,429 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 14,743 8 4 542.6
2001 Q1 14,601 3 1 205.5
2000 Q4 14,946 20 16 1338.2
2000 Q3 18,351 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 15,924 1 0 62.8
2000 Q1 14,919 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

38 on file

2019 · 1 incident

March 6, 2019 KY · Coal superintendent SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Montana Bakken, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Was going down embankment to get a GPM water measurement of the left weir when my feet flew out from under me and I landed straight down on my tail.

2013 · 1 incident

March 29, 2013 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured was building a platform when the electrical hand held grinder he was operating kicked-back striking him on the left side of the face and chipping a tooth.

2012 · 1 incident

June 11, 2012 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured had driven a pin out of a conveyor chain when a piece of the pin broke off striking injured in the arm. Injured had no lost time or medical treatment until 6-19-2012 at which time he went to the doctor for infection and was x-rayed.

2010 · 1 incident

November 17, 2010 KY · Coal master electrician HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While working on a miner in the re-build shop EE was hammering on a bit when a piece of metal struck him in the left eye. He was wearing safety glasses. He went to Dr. where they removed the foreign object. No lost time.

2009 · 1 incident

September 12, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The employee was changing rollers out on a conveyor belt in the prep plant when the chain fell from the I beam letting the roller and the chain fall catching the injured persons left hand between the roller and the electrical box.

2005 · 1 incident

September 8, 2005 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Injured stated he was walking near the scalehouse and fell landing on his knee. He had no lost time until 10-5-05. He left work and never returned.

2002 · 1 incident

July 11, 2002 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by falling object

INJURED WAS REMOVING THE DRIVELINE FROM A MACK TRUCK AND AS HE PULLED THE DRIVELINE LOOSE IT FELL AND STRUCK HIS FOREFINGER REQUIRING 1 SUTURE. HE HAD ONE LOST SCHEDULED WORKING DAY.

2001 · 2 incidents

February 5, 2001 KY · Coal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

INJURED WAS HAULING SLATE FROM THE PREP PLANT TO AN AREA TO BED DOWN A ROAD. INJURED ASSUMED IT WOULD BE EASIER TO BACK OUT THE ROAD INSTEAD OF HEADING OUT AS THE OTHERS. AS HE BEGAN TO BACK O UT OF THE ROAD, HE NOTICED HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE DITCH. HIS REAR TIRES SLID ABOUT 4 FT INTO THE DITCH OVERTURNING TRUCK. HE WAS EXAMINED AT THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED.

2000 · 1 incident

January 26, 2000 KY · Coal weighman, scale person SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

INJURED WAS WALKING FROM THE PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF THE MAIN OFFICE WHEN SHE SLIPPED AND FELL IN THE SNOW AND ICE. THE SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED TO APPROX 4" OVER A LAYER OF ICE. THE SNOW WAS STI LL FALLING. INJURED'S SHIFT WOULD HAVE BEGAN ONCE SHE HAD REACHED THE OFFICE.

1999 · 2 incidents

March 19, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED WAS LIFTING AN OXYGEN TANK TO MOVE IT TO ANOTHER AREA AND STRAINED HIS BACK.

February 22, 1999 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE SHOVELING COAL ONTO THE CONVEYOR BLET, INJURED FELT A SHARP PAIN COME IN HIS BACK AS HE TWISTED TURNED TO THE LEFT.

1998 · 1 incident

September 30, 1998 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

INJURED WAS HELPING TO REMOVE THE DRIVE MOTOR FROM A PUMP WHEN HIS FINGER BECAUSE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND MOTOR BASE CUTTING HIS FINGER. THE CUT REQUIRED SUTURES.

1996 · 1 incident

June 28, 1996 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED WAS LIFTING A RAILROAD TIE AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK.

1995 · 5 incidents

December 18, 1995 KY · Coal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

INJURED ALLEGED THAT HE WAS USING THE BUCKET OF THE BACKHOE TO SET THE BACKHOE OVER.AS HE WAS MOVING THE BACKHOE A SUDDEN JAR CAUSED THE OPERATOR'S SEAT TO COME OUT OF TRACK CAUSING THE OPERAT OR TO FALL TO ONE SIDE AGAINST THE FENDER.

September 26, 1995 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by flying object

INJURED WAS GRINDING ON A PIECE OF METAL AND PARTICLES OF RUST FLEW UNDER HIS SAFETY GLASSES INTO HIS RIGHT EYE.

August 4, 1995 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED ALLEGED HE WAS SHOVELING COAL FROM UNDER THE CONVEYOR BELT WHEN HE HEARD SOMETHING POP IN HIS RT ARM IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED HE HAD A STRESS FRACTURE

June 6, 1995 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

INJURED WAS WELDING ON A PIECE OF METAL AND AS HE RAISED UP HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON ANOTHER PIECE OF METAL,REQUIRING 4 STITCHES TO THE SCALP.

April 17, 1995 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall from machine

INJURED WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE FUEL PUMPSTO FUEL THE COAL TRUCK HE OPERATED. HE LOST HIS FOOTING [BETWEEN 1' & 2' FROM GROUND LEVEL] & FELL TO THE GROUND ON HIS BACK. INJURED WAS X-RAYE D AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL & RELEASED THE SAME DAY WITH NO VISIBLE INJURIES OR BROKEN BONES.

1994 · 1 incident

March 14, 1994 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

INJURED WAS REPAIRING THE ACID PUMP AND GOT SPRAYED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FACE CAUSING MINOR BURNS. INJURED HAD ASSUMED THAT NO ACID WAS LEFT IN THE PUMP BECAUSE THE OUTLET LINE WAS DISCONNE CTED.

1993 · 5 incidents

November 29, 1993 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED WAS SHOVELING THE TAIL PIECE FOR THE STACKER BELT WHEN HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK

October 13, 1993 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED ALLEGED HE WAS TRAMMING THE 550 DOZER AROUND A OLD STRIP BENCH WHEN AN OVERHANGING LIMB STRUCK HIM IN THE EYE

September 3, 1993 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

INJURED WAS TRYING TO PICK UP A SHAFT THAT WAS TOO HEAVY & DROPPED IT ON HIS THUMB HE WENT TO THE DOC THEN RETURNED TO WORK THE SAMD DAY

April 29, 1993 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

INJURED HAD BEEN WELDING AND RAISED HIS WELDING HOOD TO CHANGE WELDINGRODS WHEN THE USED ROD POPPED AND A PIECE OF HOT SLAG FLEW IN HIS RIGHT EYE.

February 16, 1993 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED ALLEDGED HIS LOWER BACK BEGAN HURTING AS HE WAS LOADING COAL WITH A FRONT END LOADER. AT THIS TIME HE HAS NOT RETURNED TO WORK AND IS UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE.

1992 · 3 incidents

February 20, 1992 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

REMOVING PUMP UP HILL FELT PAIN IN HIP

February 19, 1992 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

CLEANING OFF R R TRACKS WITH HANDLE SHOVEL EXP PAIN IN LT HAND

1991 · 2 incidents

March 5, 1991 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED WAS SERVICING FLOAT CYCLINDER IN PREPLANT WHEN HE BENT OVER TO REMOVE CAP FROM FLOAT (1 5-20 LBS) HE FELT A PAIN IN LOWER BACK

1990 · 1 incident

1989 · 1 incident

1986 · 2 incidents

July 30, 1986 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver OTHER
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)
May 27, 1986 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED WAS WOR5ING AT PLANT REMOVING TIN ROOF WHEN HE WAS ON A PIECE OF TIN AND FELL THROUGH THE ROOF APPROX 12 FT

1984 · 4 incidents

June 6, 1984 KY · Coal supply man, nipper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING A 55 GALLON DRUM OF OIL TO UNLOAD OFF SUPPLY TRUCK AND LAST HIS BALANCE AND FELL ON HIS ANKLE SPRAINING IT .

March 6, 1984 KY · Coal tipple/top lander/skip dumper operator, binman, topman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING COAL OFF OF MAINLINE TRACK. HE COMPLAINED OF LOWER BACK PAIN

February 21, 1984 KY · Coal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Fall from ladders

EMP SAID HE WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER THAT WAS WELDED TO THE SIDE OF A STACKING TUBE AND WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN TO A LOWER STEP THAT HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF THE STEP AND THIS JERKED HIS BACK

February 13, 1984 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Manalapan Mining Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMP SAID HE WAS LOOSENING CHAIN BINDER WITH A PIECE OF PIPE AND WHEN HE RELEASED THE BINDER THE PIECE OF PIPE STRUCK HIM IN THE JAW

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Prep Plant

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.