Spruce Laurel Preparation Plant has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $606 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Spruce Laurel Preparation Plant.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
54
Years on record
1983–1999
Latest incident
Sep 1999
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
90
citations
36
significant & substantial
$14,227
proposed penalties
$12,974
paid to date
91% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,253 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.
90 citations across 1,665 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Spruce Laurel Preparation Plant has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $606 outstanding across 3 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.
$14K
proposed penalties
$14K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$606
outstanding
85 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-05.
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.
14citations taken to the federal commission · 16% of citations on record
Settled
14 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 7 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
32%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $1K 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 2009-09-14.
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 Spruce Laurel Preparation Plant shows 100% of 21 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: 2009-06-16, 17 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
21
samples
0.32
dust max (mg/m3)
21 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
UTILITY MAN9
ELECTRICIAN3
OUTSIDE FOREMAN3
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
1
2022
1
2021
0
2020
0
2019
0
2018
0
2011
0
2010
0
2009
2
2008
4
2007
3
2006
1
2005
6
2004
3
2003
3
2002
3
2001
1
2000
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Spruce Laurel Preparation Plant sits in Boone County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 10.1% 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.
Boone County, West Virginia · Population 21,312
10.1%
Mining share of county employment
$56,152
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
0
0
0
2026 Q1
0
1
0
2025 Q4
0
0
0
2025 Q3
42
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
0
0
0
2025 Q1
0
0
0
2024 Q4
0
0
0
2024 Q3
0
0
0
Show 65 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
0
0
0
2023 Q3
24
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
20
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
24
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
12
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
24
2
0
83333.3
2022 Q2
1,132
1
0
883.4
2022 Q1
0
0
0
2021 Q4
24
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
0
2
0
2021 Q2
0
0
0
2021 Q1
0
0
0
2020 Q4
0
0
0
2020 Q3
0
0
0
2020 Q2
0
0
0
2020 Q1
0
0
0
2019 Q4
0
0
0
2019 Q3
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
0
0
0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
1
0
2011 Q1
0
0
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q3
0
0
0
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
0
2
0
2009 Q3
422
1
0
2369.7
2009 Q2
1,114
2
0
1795.3
2009 Q1
1,635
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
3,250
6
1
1846.2
2008 Q3
3,413
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
2,871
5
1
1741.6
2008 Q1
2,305
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
1,566
1
0
638.6
2007 Q3
1,743
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
1,543
8
2
5184.7
2007 Q1
2,501
5
2
1999.2
2006 Q4
3,436
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
0
0
0
2006 Q1
0
5
2
2005 Q4
5,586
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
4,604
13
9
2823.6
2005 Q2
2,821
12
3
4253.8
2005 Q1
3,071
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
2,587
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,054
10
7
4868.5
2004 Q2
1,156
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
1,863
6
6
3220.6
2003 Q4
1,722
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
1,926
1
1
519.2
2003 Q2
1,908
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
1,742
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
2,185
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
1,803
1
1
554.6
2002 Q2
1,910
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
1,289
1
0
775.8
2001 Q4
299
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
0
0
0
2000 Q2
0
0
0
2000 Q1
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
54 on file
1999 · 3 incidents
September 30, 1999WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WAS COLLECTING A COAL SAMPLE AT STOCKPILE AREA, AREA HAD JUST BEEN WATERED DOWN FOR DUST CONTROL, SLIPPED AND GRABBED TRUCK TO KEEP FROM FALLING, STRAINED NECK, UPPER BACK, AND SHOULDERS.
1997 · 1 incident
October 8, 1997WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE STATED THAT HE WAS LIFTING A NEW ROLL TO PUT IN THE SAMPLE CRUSHER AND HIS LEFT HAND SLIPPED AND HIT THE WALL OF THE CRUSHER CUTTING HIS LEFT KNUCKLE.
February 15, 1996WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
CLEANING FLOORS AROUND THE THICKENER SEALING FLOOR TANKS. FLOOR WAS VERY SLICK. BOTH FEET SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER HIM. HE FELL ONTO A 3" VALVE ON FLOC. LINE IN THE KIDNEY AREA OF LOWER BACK. LEFT HAND AND LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT LEG INJURED ALSO.
February 25, 1994WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS USIGN A PUNCHING BLADE TO CLEAN A CHUTE CLOGGED WITH MUD CATCHIGN HIS FINGER AGAINST CHUTE SIDE AND PUNCHING ROD HANDLE. FINGERNAIL FO RIGHT RING FINGER WAS KNOCKED LOOSE.
February 23, 1994WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELIGN FROM UNDER NO. 3 BELT LINE. HE WAS USING A LONG HANDLE SHOVEL. THE MATERIAL STUCK IN SHOVEL, WHEN HE TRIED TO PLACE MATERIAL IN ROAD CAUSING HIM TO TWIST AT WAIST. TH IS CREATED A PAIN IN LOWER BACK.
January 25, 1994WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
THE CO IS ONLY REPORTING AN ALLEGED DIAGNOIS OF AN ILLNESS AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ILLNESS ACTUALLY EXISTS OR THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED IS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS THE CO OPERATES ITS MINES IN SUCK A MANNER IT IS DOUBLTFUL THE ALLEGE ILLNESS DIAGNOSED COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS PERSON EE WITH THE CO.
March 26, 1992WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
THE COMPANY IS ONLY REPORTING AN ALLEGED DIAGNOSIS OF AN ILLNESS AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ILLNESS ACTUALLY EXISTS OR THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSES IS AN "OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS". THE CO MPANY THEREFORE CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSESD. THIS OPERATES ITS MINES IN SUCH A MANNER IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSES COULD HAVE BEEN
July 22, 1991WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING OUT A CHUTE THAT FEEDS COAL TO A TERTIARY COAL SAMPLER.EMPLOYEE FAILED TO LOCK-OUT OR DENERGIZE THE SAMPLER.HIS HAND WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE CUTTER BAR AND FRAME OF THE CH UTE RESULTING IN LACERATION,FRACTURE OF THE DISTAL PHALANX OF RIGHT THUMB.
1990 · 6 incidents
November 19, 1990WV · Coalelectrician, linemanDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
CO IS ONLY REPORTING ALLEGED DIANOSIS OF ILLNESS & IS NOT ACKNOLEDGING THAT ILLNESS ACTUALLY EXISTS OR THAT ALLEGED ILLNESS DIANOSED IS OCCUPATION ILLNESS. CO THEREFORE CANNOT REPORT CAUSE OR NATURE OF ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED. CO OPERATESITS MINES IN SUCH MANNER THAT IT IS DOUBFUL THAT ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY PERSON'S EMPL WITH THIS CO.
August 25, 1990WV · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A NUT FROM A BOLT USING A RATCHET TOOL. THE RATCHET SLIPPED ON NUT AND EMPLOYEES INDEX FINGER ALONG WITH RATCHET TOOL HIT STEEL BEAM RESULTING IN SIMPLE FRAC TURE OF INDEX FINGER AT END JOINT.
IGNITION OF EXPLOSIVE GAS BELIEVED TO BE METHANE OCCURRED WHEN EMPL ENERGIZED PUMP STARTER LOCATED IN BLOCK BLDG.BUILDING HAD BEEN CLOSED/NOT USED FOR 6 MOS.MIXTURE OF EXPLOSIVE GAS ACCUMULATE D FROM OLD DEEP WATER WELL LOCATED IN ENCLOSURE.
May 5, 1990WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
THE COMPANY IS ONLY REPORTING AN AWARD OF BENEFITS IN A STATE WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIM BASED ON AN ALLEGED LOSS OF HEARING AND IS THEREFORE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING OR ADMITTING THAT AN ILLNESS ACT USLLY EXISTS AND OR THAT ANY HEARING LOSS IN THIS INSTANCE IS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS.THE COMPANY CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OF NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED.THE COMPANY OPERATES ITS M
January 27, 1990WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS ASSISTING OTHER EES IN CHANGING OUT A BELT ROLLER, WHILE PERFORMING THIS WORK IT IS BELIEVED THE EE AGGRAVATED A PREVIOUS INJURY TO HIS BACK THAT OCCURRED IN IN DEC 1989.
January 16, 1990WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
THE COMPANY IS ONLY REPORTING AN ALLEGED DIAGNOSIS OF AN ILLNESS AND IS NOT ACKENOLEDGING THE ILLNESS ACTUALLY EXISTS OR THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED IS AN "OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS". THE CO MPANY THEREFORE CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED. THIS COMPANY OPERATES ITS MINES IN SUCH A MANNER IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED COULD HA
1989 · 2 incidents
August 2, 1989WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING MATERIAL FROM WASH BOX AND STRUCK THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT HAND ON A SHARP PROTRUDING EDGE OF A FEED CHUTE, CAUSING A SEVERE LACERATION.
January 9, 1989WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
THE COMPANY IS ONLY REPORTING AN AWARD OF BENEFITS IN A STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM BASED ON AN ALLEGED LOSS OF HEARING AN IS THEREFORE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING OR ADMITTING THAT AN ILLNESS ACT UALLY EXISTS AND/OR THAT ANY HEARING LOSS IN THIS INSTANCE IS AN "OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS". THE COMPANY CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DEAGNOSED. THE COMPANY OPERATES I
1988 · 3 incidents
August 24, 1988WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON FILTER CONVEYOR BELT THAT WAS BEING REPAIRED CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE EMPLOYEES BODY ATTITUDE & THE FACT THAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED FIVE (5) PREVIOUS STRAINS TO HIS BACK
August 15, 1988WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
E MP WAS ASSISTING OTHER EMP CAHANGE A 6" PIPE VALVE. THE ATT. POSITION OF THE EMP BODY AND HAVING A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS BACK PROBLEMS ARE COSIDERED CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THIS INCIDENT.
January 6, 1988WV · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE PLACED3HIMSELF ON A FIVE GALLON BUCKET TO CHANGE BELT ON RAW COAL VIBRATOR, BUCKET COLLASPED CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO FALL, AND HIS RIGHT ARM STRUCK A PIPE.
August 17, 1987WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
MANAGEMENT NOT 4ADE AWARE OF ANY INJURY UNTIL 6-9-87 WHEN EMPLOYEE STATED TO THE CHIEF SAFETY AND HEALTH INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD HURT HIS BACK CLIMBING IN THE ENDLOADER.
May 14, 1987WV · Coalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
THE COMPANY IS 2NLY REPORTING AN ALLEGED DIAGNOSIS OF AN ILLNESS AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ILLNESS ACTUALLY EXISTS OR THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED IS AN "OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS". T HE COMPANY THER9FORE CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED. THIS COMPANY OPERATES ITS MINES IN SUCH A MANNER IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED COU
January 14, 1987WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
THE COMPANY IS 2NLY REPORTING AN ALLEGED DIAGNOSIS OF AN ILLNESS AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE ILLNESS ACTAULLY EXITS OR THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED IS AN "OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS". TH E COMPANY THERE0ORE CANNOT REPORT THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED. THIS COMPANY OPERATES ITS MINES IN SUCH A MANNER IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE ALLEGED ILLNESS DIAGNOSED COUL
1986 · 2 incidents
January 15, 1986WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
INJURED WAS TURNING BREAKER BY HAND AND FREEING UP STUCK HAMMER\S AND MIDDLE AND RING FINGER ON LEFT HAND WAS MASHED BETWEEN HAMMER AND BACK PLATE IN BREAKER.
October 4, 1985WV · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WS MOVING A BOARD WHILE HE WAS STANDING ON AN ANGLE IRON WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL CAUSING HIM TO SPRAIN HIS LEFT KNEE AND CUT HIS SHIN.
June 18, 1985WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS