Mining Incidents

Star Point Refuse Pile: 81 MSHA citations Coal

Price, Carbon County, UT  ·  Temporarily Idled
MSHA Mine ID: 4202334

Star Point Refuse Pile has $23K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
0
Years on record
Latest incident
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
81
citations
21
significant & substantial
$22,888
proposed penalties
$22,453
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $435 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
66
inspections on record
1,054
inspection hours
7.7
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.
81 citations across 1,054 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Star Point Refuse Pile has $23K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$23K
proposed penalties
$22K
current assessed
$22K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
80 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $9K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-01-11.
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.
25.9%
significant & substantial
7.4%
high negligence or reckless
25.9%
reasonably likely or greater
29.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 6.2% low, 86.4% moderate, 7.4% high, 0.0% 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.
3 citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
  • Stood as issued 3 · 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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$8K proposed, $8K 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 2008-05-07.
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
WEST 2008-971 Default Lesnick 2010 $8K → $8K
WEST 2004-38 Settlement Manning 2004 $610 → $175
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Star Point Refuse Pile shows 100% of 85 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: 2025-07-17
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
85
samples
0.66
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.
51 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 34 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR55
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER17
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR4

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.

Last sampled: 2025-04-03
2%
over PEL
50
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR22
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER15
  • BACKHOE OPERATOR5
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2025 100% 5
2024 100% 6
2023 100% 5
2022 100% 7
2021 100% 4
2020 100% 8
2019 100% 6
2018 100% 5
2017 100% 6
2016 100% 3
2015 100% 5
2014 100% 4
2013 100% 1
2012 100% 2
2011 100% 3
2010 100% 4
2009 100% 1
2008 100% 2
2007 100% 2
2006 100% 3
2005 100% 1
2003 100% 2
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2025 0% 2
2024 0% 4
2022 0% 3
2021 0% 1
2020 0% 4
2019 0% 2
2018 0% 2
2017 0% 3
2015 0% 5
2014 0% 3
2013 0% 2
2012 0% 2
2011 0% 4
2010 0% 4
2009 0% 1
2008 0% 1
2007 0% 2
2006 0% 2
2005 100% 1
2003 0% 2
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
  1. Sunnyside Cogeneration Associates 2002 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Coal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.
Year Employees Coal produced (tons)
2025 4 63,916
2024 6
2023 4
2022 4
2021 4
2020 5
2019 7
2018 2
2017 2
2016 2
2015 2
2014 2
2013 2
2012 2
2011 2
2010 2
2009 2
2008 2
2007 3
2006 2
2005 2
2004 2
2003 2
2002 1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Star Point Refuse Pile sits in Carbon County, Utah, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Carbon County, Utah · Population 20,446
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$53,673
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
2025 Q3 1,342 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 597 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 979 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 1,159 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,339 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 1,123 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,350 1 1 740.7
2023 Q4 512 0 0 0.0
Show 81 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q3 425 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 521 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 690 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 944 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 821 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 615 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 475 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 935 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 781 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 503 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 736 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 683 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 785 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 691 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 198 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,105 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 991 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,006 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 974 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 856 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 912 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 660 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 852 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 707 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 967 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 1,000 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 780 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 931 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 972 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 1,108 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 762 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 733 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 1,067 1 0 937.2
2015 Q2 883 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 1,003 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 1,392 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 1,235 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 1,026 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 885 2 0 2259.9
2013 Q4 651 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 952 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 879 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 883 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 1,003 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 877 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 877 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 911 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 1,269 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 980 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 976 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 945 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 965 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 961 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 972 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 1,260 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 1,390 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,376 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 1,240 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 1,240 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 1,260 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 900 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 975 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,278 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 1,300 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 1,220 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 1,120 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 1,056 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 1,280 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 1,300 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 1,250 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 1,225 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 1,210 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 1,220 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 1,200 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 1,200 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 1,200 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 1,160 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,160 1 1 862.1
2003 Q1 1,080 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 526 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 520 1 0 1923.1

No reportable incidents on file.

MSHA has no recorded reportable accidents for this mine in the current dataset. New reports appear here within a week of being filed.