Surface #4: 115 MSHA citations Coal
Surface #4 has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $300 outstanding across 0 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 2010
115
citations
29
significant & substantial
$17,135
proposed penalties
$16,835
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $300 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2010
58
inspections on record
3,098
inspection hours
3.7
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.115 citations across 3,098 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Surface #4 has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $300 outstanding across 0 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.$17K
proposed penalties
$17K
current assessed
$17K
paid to date
$300
outstanding
114 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-09-11.
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.25.4%
significant & substantial
1.8%
high negligence or reckless
26.3%
reasonably likely or greater
11.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 16.7% low, 81.6% moderate, 1.8% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Surface #4 shows 100% of 245 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: 2025-07-25
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
245
samples
2.18
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.148 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 97 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR119
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR48
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE36
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2025-08-067.6
silica avg (%)
27
samples
17.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR18
- HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR9
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: 2025-07-25
ⓘ
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.1%
over PEL
102
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR38
- REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE25
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER18
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% | 4 |
| 2024 | 100% | 5 |
| 2023 | 100% | 9 |
| 2022 | 100% | 17 |
| 2021 | 100% | 26 |
| 2020 | 100% | 23 |
| 2019 | 100% | 25 |
| 2018 | 94% | 16 |
| 2017 | 100% | 21 |
| 2016 | 100% | 14 |
| 2015 | 100% | 31 |
| 2014 | 100% | 19 |
| 2013 | 100% | 6 |
| 2012 | 100% | 19 |
| 2011 | 100% | 10 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.9 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0.8 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4.5 | 3 |
| 2021 | 8.0 | 7 |
| 2020 | 10.5 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7.7 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7.6 | 3 |
| 2017 | 9.2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 10.0 | 5 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0% | 3 |
| 2024 | 0% | 2 |
| 2023 | 0% | 4 |
| 2022 | 0% | 5 |
| 2021 | 0% | 15 |
| 2020 | 0% | 8 |
| 2019 | 0% | 10 |
| 2018 | 0% | 10 |
| 2017 | 0% | 11 |
| 2016 | 0% | 5 |
| 2015 | 0% | 5 |
| 2014 | 0% | 7 |
| 2012 | 0% | 12 |
| 2011 | 20% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Surface #4 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2021.
Injury rate, 2021
ⓘ
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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.35 and the all-US-mining average was 2.19 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2020 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2019 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2018 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2017 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2016 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2015 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2014 * | 0.00 | 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.
Ownership history
- Mine Rite Coal Co Inc 2010 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 7,426 |
| 2024 | 1 | 4,022 |
| 2023 | 4 | 10,522 |
| 2022 | 8 | 31,527 |
| 2021 | 10 | 46,163 |
| 2020 | 13 | 54,342 |
| 2019 | 12 | 69,672 |
| 2018 | 12 | 46,296 |
| 2017 | 12 | 60,542 |
| 2016 | 11 | 58,262 |
| 2015 | 11 | 29,976 |
| 2014 | 12 | 60,195 |
| 2013 | 12 | 59,330 |
| 2012 | 11 | 56,535 |
| 2011 | 10 | 48,376 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Surface #4 sits in Johnson County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.Johnson County, Kentucky · Population 22,464
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$43,014
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 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 Q2 | 165 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q3 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 83333.3 |
Show 54 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q2 | 1,074 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 4,035 | 2 | 0 | 495.7 |
| 2022 Q4 | 4,863 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 4,476 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q2 | 4,732 | 2 | 0 | 422.7 |
| 2022 Q1 | 4,287 | 4 | 1 | 933.1 |
| 2021 Q4 | 6,205 | 1 | 0 | 161.2 |
| 2021 Q3 | 5,908 | 1 | 0 | 169.3 |
| 2021 Q2 | 5,860 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q1 | 6,920 | 2 | 0 | 289.0 |
| 2020 Q4 | 8,223 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q3 | 8,330 | 4 | 1 | 480.2 |
| 2020 Q2 | 8,333 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q1 | 7,722 | 6 | 1 | 777.0 |
| 2019 Q4 | 7,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q3 | 7,968 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q2 | 7,677 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q1 | 7,324 | 7 | 5 | 955.8 |
| 2018 Q4 | 7,051 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q3 | 5,156 | 2 | 2 | 387.9 |
| 2018 Q2 | 7,763 | 6 | 0 | 772.9 |
| 2018 Q1 | 5,971 | 4 | 0 | 669.9 |
| 2017 Q4 | 667 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 7,521 | 2 | 0 | 265.9 |
| 2017 Q2 | 7,915 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q1 | 7,991 | 2 | 0 | 250.3 |
| 2016 Q4 | 7,049 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 7,614 | 2 | 0 | 262.7 |
| 2016 Q2 | 7,004 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q1 | 527 | 2 | 0 | 3795.1 |
| 2015 Q4 | 2,361 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 6,104 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 7,229 | 1 | 0 | 138.3 |
| 2015 Q1 | 6,245 | 2 | 0 | 320.3 |
| 2014 Q4 | 7,524 | 2 | 0 | 265.8 |
| 2014 Q3 | 7,644 | 1 | 0 | 130.8 |
| 2014 Q2 | 7,716 | 3 | 0 | 388.8 |
| 2014 Q1 | 7,169 | 3 | 2 | 418.5 |
| 2013 Q4 | 7,584 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q3 | 7,808 | 6 | 2 | 768.4 |
| 2013 Q2 | 7,030 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q1 | 6,971 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 7,050 | 4 | 1 | 567.4 |
| 2012 Q3 | 7,044 | 4 | 3 | 567.9 |
| 2012 Q2 | 7,168 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 7,001 | 5 | 0 | 714.2 |
| 2011 Q4 | 6,142 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 6,398 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q2 | 6,169 | 1 | 0 | 162.1 |
| 2011 Q1 | 5,712 | 16 | 3 | 2801.1 |
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.