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.
783 citations across 3,882 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Prep Plant has $439K in proposed MSHA penalties and $180K outstanding across 19 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.
$439K
proposed penalties
$376K
current assessed
$196K
paid to date
$180K
outstanding
760 assessments are final orders; 19 contested dockets.
Of $198K in penalties contested before the Commission, $104K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-12-17.
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.
166citations taken to the federal commission · 21% of citations on record
Settled
153 · 92%
Stood as issued
9 · 5%
Vacated or withdrawn
4 · 2%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 56 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
46%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$198K proposed, $107K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2015-07-26.
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 Prep Plant shows 100% of 138 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: 2017-09-19, 8 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
138
samples
1.24
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.
119 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 19 by the operator.
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.
Prep Plant recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2018.
Injury rate, 2018
ⓘ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 3.34 and the all-US-mining average was 2.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 3.81 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
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
2.30
2.30
0.000
2010
1.42
0.00
0.000
2009
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
2.16
2.16
0.000
2007 *
5.54
5.54
0.000
2006 *
2.09
2.09
0.000
2005 *
4.87
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
0
2025
7
2024
8
2023
7
2022
8
2021
8
2020
7
2019
7
2018
13
2017
14
2016
1
2015
3
2014
3
2013
2
2012
4
2011
30
2010
41
2009
43
2008
29
2007
27
2006
36
2005
31
2004
35
2003
20
2002
3
2001
2
2000
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Prep Plant sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
Sequoia Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
The employee was using a pipe wrench to move a sheave to put the belts on a drive when it slipped and caught the tip of the right middle finger between the pipe wrench and the sheave.
2012 · 1 incident
December 19, 2012KY · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The employee was trying to clean out a clogged 4" pipe on the second floor of the prep plant with a wash down hose, when the hose slipped out of his hands and striking him in the left side of the head and face resulting in two cracked facial bones.
2011 · 1 incident
January 10, 2011KY · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was putting up silt fence along the berms beside the Prep Plant. He slipped and his leg went under him and he landed on his left knee. He complained of a burning sensation in his knee, so he was taken to the medical facility for treatment.
EE was measuring belt structure using a metal tape measure. The tape measure slid across his fingers therefore cutting his fingers. Resulting in 10 stitches in 3 fingers.
EE was traveling down steep grade, when the truck apparently came out of gear and he lost control of the truck. EE jumped out of the truck, causing scraps and bruises to himself.
2007 · 2 incidents
May 16, 2007KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stated that due to repetitive motion, surgery was required to repair the rotator cuff. Employee continued to work from date of injury, 2-6-07, until 8-2-07, his surgery date.
An employee was moving an electric motor across the floor with a pallet jack when he felt pain in his upper back and left shoulder. He took off work on Jan. 8 & 9. X-ray tests were negative at the hospital.
2005 · 2 incidents
May 16, 2005KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
A miner was leaving mine property in his personal vehicle to go home. He was passing a vehicle that he had been following when he met a coal truck on the haul road. His vehicle collided with the coal truck. He refused treatment at the time of the accident but went to the E.R. later that night where it was determined that he had a fractured collarbone & dislocated shoulder.
April 29, 2005KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE stated that he was changing a hydraulic hose on a d9 dozer when he raised up and struck his head on the dozer. He had removal his hand but the pillow access into the area of the dozer. He recieved 3 stitches to his head
1995 · 2 incidents
July 20, 1995KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Harlan Fuel Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EMPLOYEE WAS AWARDED RETRAINING INCENTIVE BENEFITS FOR COAL WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS.
April 25, 1995KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE STATED THAT HE HAD CLEANED RAW COAL VIBRATOR.HE CLIMBED OUT OF HOLE ON THE BACK OF THE VIBRATOR THAT WAS COVERED WITH A PIECE OF BELT. HE HADTO HOLD BELT UP WITH HIS HEAD WHILE HE TWISTED A ROUND TO GET ONTO A 55 GAL BARREL, HE THEN STEPPED OFF ONTO FLOOR. WHEN GOT ONTO FLOOR, HE COULDHARDLY STRAIGHTEN UP WITH PAIN IN LOWER BACK AREA RESULTING IN STRAIN TO LOWER BACK.
1994 · 1 incident
June 2, 1994KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE STATED THAT HE WAS GOING UP LADDER TO TIE IT OFF. HE GOT 6 FT OFF THE GROUND ON THE LADDER AND LADDER SLIPPED AND HE FELL APPROX. 6 FT . WHEN HE FELL HE HIT ON LADDER CAUSING A FRACTURE TO I 9 VETERBRAE.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Double Branch Energy, LLC.