Mining Incidents

T-10 Sunny-Knott: 199 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by Jeffery A Hoops
Lackey, Knott County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1517697

T-10 Sunny-Knott has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $968 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at T-10 Sunny-Knott.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
3
Years on record
1997–2008
Latest incident
Dec 2008
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
199
citations
63
significant & substantial
$27,281
proposed penalties
$26,047
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,234 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
63
inspections on record
1,710
inspection hours
11.6
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.
199 citations across 1,710 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

T-10 Sunny-Knott has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $968 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.
$27K
proposed penalties
$27K
current assessed
$26K
paid to date
$968
outstanding
199 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $844 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-11-17.
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.
31.7%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
32.2%
reasonably likely or greater
1.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 2.5% low, 97.5% moderate, 0.0% 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.
2 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 50%
  • Stood as issued 1 · 50%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
24%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $844 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 2011-07-25.
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
KENT 2011-1327 Settlement Miller 2012 $1K → $760
KENT 2007-260 Default Lesnick 2007 $84 → $84
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at T-10 Sunny-Knott shows 99% of 152 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: 2014-10-28, 11 years ago
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
152
samples
1.80
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.
145 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 7 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR40
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER33
  • UTILITY MAN26

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2001-05-31, 25 years ago
0.3
silica avg (%)
1
samples
0.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR1

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: 2014-10-28, 11 years ago
4%
over PEL
74
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER20
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR17
  • TIPPLE OPERATOR12
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
2014 100% 10
2012 100% 18
2011 100% 5
2010 100% 11
2009 100% 18
2008 100% 7
2007 100% 18
2006 100% 12
2005 100% 9
2004 100% 4
2003 100% 8
2002 100% 8
2001 100% 14
2000 90% 10
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2014 0% 6
2012 0% 5
2011 0% 5
2009 0% 12
2008 0% 6
2007 0% 5
2006 0% 5
2005 0% 4
2003 0% 8
2002 0% 4
2001 0% 5
2000 33% 9
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

T-10 Sunny-Knott recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.

Injury rate, 2012
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 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.35 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.
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
  1. Sunny-Knott Coal Inc 1995 to 2006
  2. Miller Bros Coal LLC 2006 to 2010
  3. Laurel Mountain Resources, LLC 2010 to 2011
  4. James River Coal Service Company 2011 to 2015
  5. Revelation Energy, LLC. 2015 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 1
2014 4
2013 0
2012 10
2011 7
2010 6
2009 10
2008 9
2007 6
2006 6
2005 6
2004 7
2003 7
2002 6
2001 7
2000 7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

T-10 Sunny-Knott sits in Knott County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knott County, Kentucky · Population 14,046
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$37,736
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
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 0 0 0
2018 Q3 0 0 0
2018 Q2 0 0 0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 0 0 0
Show 68 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 1,133 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 0 0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q3 2,750 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 2,470 2 0 809.7
2014 Q1 2,523 2 0 792.7
2013 Q4 0 0 0
2013 Q3 0 0 0
2013 Q2 0 0 0
2013 Q1 0 0 0
2012 Q4 5,648 4 2 708.2
2012 Q3 7,455 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 6,500 6 0 923.1
2012 Q1 3,913 6 1 1533.4
2011 Q4 6,055 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 3,974 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,150 2 0 634.9
2011 Q1 3,998 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 3,258 5 1 1534.7
2010 Q3 2,991 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,021 3 0 993.0
2010 Q1 1,160 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 4,100 9 6 2195.1
2009 Q3 5,610 12 2 2139.0
2009 Q2 4,907 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 4,841 4 1 826.3
2008 Q4 4,874 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 4,636 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,071 6 0 1473.8
2008 Q1 4,246 7 1 1648.6
2007 Q4 4,000 2 1 500.0
2007 Q3 3,944 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 3,970 13 3 3274.6
2007 Q1 3,825 8 2 2091.5
2006 Q4 4,556 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,961 5 4 1262.3
2006 Q2 4,439 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,849 2 1 519.6
2005 Q4 4,345 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,206 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 4,001 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,803 2 2 525.9
2004 Q4 4,342 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 4,487 2 1 445.7
2004 Q2 3,878 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,323 9 5 2081.9
2003 Q4 3,918 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,319 14 8 3241.5
2003 Q2 4,495 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,596 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,710 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 4,190 2 0 477.3
2002 Q2 3,759 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 4,181 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 3,803 4 0 1051.8
2001 Q3 4,599 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 4,071 5 0 1228.2
2001 Q1 4,887 1 0 204.6
2000 Q4 4,454 1 0 224.5
2000 Q3 4,202 2 0 476.0
2000 Q2 4,286 7 3 1633.2
2000 Q1 4,835 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

3 on file

2008 · 1 incident

December 22, 2008 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Miller Bros Coal LLC · Fall from machine

Employee jumped off loader and hurt left foot (hairline fracture).

1997 · 2 incidents

October 15, 1997 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sunny-Knott Coal Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS PULLING UP ON A PIECE OF TIN SIDING. EE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK SHOULDER. EE WORKED THE REST OF THE SHIFT, THEN WENT TO THE DR. THE NEXT DAY.

August 22, 1997 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Sunny-Knott Coal Inc · Fall from piled material

EE CLIMBED ON FORMS TO LOOSEN TOP FORM, LOST HISBALANCE AND FELL 4-6 FT. EE SHOULD OF USED LADDER AND TIED OFF. EE ACTED ON HIS OWN AND HAS BEENCOUNCILED ON HIS UNSAFE ACTS.