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Vermilion Plant (MC47): 110 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Riverstone Group
Oglesby, La Salle County, IL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1103208

Vermilion Plant (MC47) has $23K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 9 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
5
Years on record
2011–2026
Latest incident
Jun 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2009
110
citations
10
significant & substantial
$22,581
proposed penalties
$21,622
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $959 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See RiverStone Group, Inc.'s full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2009
49
inspections on record
848
inspection hours
n/a
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.
Rate withheld: 848 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Vermilion Plant (MC47) has $23K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 9 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
109 assessments are final orders; 9 contested dockets.
Of $6K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-16.
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.
9.1%
significant & substantial
4.5%
high negligence or reckless
9.1%
reasonably likely or greater
29.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 32.7% low, 62.7% moderate, 4.5% 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.
19 citations taken to the federal commission · 17% of citations on record
  • Settled 14 · 74%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 5 · 26%
33%
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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
61%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$8K proposed, $3K 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 2025-05-07.
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
LAKE 2022-0263 Settlement 2023 $2K → $1K
LAKE 2010-55M Settlement Lesnick 2010 $1K → $573
LAKE 2019-0101 Settlement Paez 2019 $502 → $502
LAKE 2015-58M Settlement Lesnick 2016 $392 → $100
LAKE 2011-379M Withdrawal Lesnick 2011 $354 → $100
LAKE 2011-458M Settlement Lewis 2011 $317 → $200
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
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.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘ Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2025-09-24
8%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
21
samples
13
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz31 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg8
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
  • Arsenic fumes3
Show the individual readings (57)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2010-12-09 Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz 13 10 1.30 Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2025-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Building Repair/Maint.
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2011-01-19 Iron oxide fumes 2.59 20 0.13 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Lead fumes 7.14 450 0.02 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.03 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Manganese fumes 0.51 5 0.10 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Zinc oxide fumes 0.04 10 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Iron oxide fumes 2.12 20 0.11 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Lead fumes 6.25 450 0.01 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Magnesium oxide fumes 0.03 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Manganese fumes 0.46 5 0.09 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Zinc oxide fumes 0.03 10 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Iron oxide fumes 2.34 20 0.12 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Magnesium oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Manganese fumes 0.48 5 0.10 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Zinc oxide fumes 0 10 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz 8.84 10 0.88 Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-01-19 Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz 4.25 10 0.43 Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-01-19 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2011-01-19 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Mechanic
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.44 2.73 0.16 Mechanic
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 1.7 0.15 Backhoe Operator
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.44 1.5 0.29 Bobcat Operator
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.75 2.53 0.30 Drill Operator, Rotary
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

Vermilion Plant (MC47) recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ 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 metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Illinois, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.41 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
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 7.63 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 8.34 0.00 0.000
2010 * 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
  1. RiverStone Group, Inc. 2008 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 9
2025 10
2024 12
2023 12
2022 9
2021 9
2020 12
2019 12
2018 11
2017 10
2016 9
2015 10
2014 11
2013 12
2012 12
2011 12
2010 9
2009 7
2008 5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Vermilion Plant (MC47) sits in LaSalle County, Illinois, where the Census mining category is 1.0% 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.
LaSalle County, Illinois · Population 109,049
1.0%
Mining share of county employment
$72,281
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 4,972 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 4,312 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 5,145 7 1 1360.5
2025 Q3 6,578 4 0 608.1
2025 Q2 6,526 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,214 6 2 1150.7
2024 Q4 6,599 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 7,438 3 0 403.3
Show 63 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 7,252 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 4,908 2 0 407.5
2023 Q4 6,521 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 7,843 2 0 255.0
2023 Q2 7,257 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 5,126 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 4,166 4 0 960.2
2022 Q3 4,434 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 5,146 8 0 1554.6
2022 Q1 3,838 2 0 521.1
2021 Q4 4,323 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 4,398 6 0 1364.3
2021 Q2 3,919 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 4,530 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 4,839 6 0 1239.9
2020 Q3 5,640 1 0 177.3
2020 Q2 5,784 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,989 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 4,858 2 0 411.7
2019 Q3 2,052 1 0 487.3
2019 Q2 4,085 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 2,578 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 5,931 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 6,235 2 1 320.8
2018 Q2 4,639 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 3,187 3 0 941.3
2017 Q4 3,826 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 4,637 2 0 431.3
2017 Q2 4,673 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,844 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 4,192 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 4,709 1 0 212.4
2016 Q2 4,505 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 4,196 2 0 476.6
2015 Q4 4,545 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 4,849 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 4,361 4 0 917.2
2015 Q1 3,796 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 4,538 4 1 881.4
2014 Q3 4,586 2 1 436.1
2014 Q2 4,481 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 3,085 1 0 324.1
2013 Q4 4,866 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 4,409 2 0 453.6
2013 Q2 4,843 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 3,469 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 4,891 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 4,943 3 0 606.9
2012 Q2 5,320 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 5,314 3 0 564.5
2011 Q4 5,933 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 6,998 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 6,003 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 5,053 2 0 395.8
2010 Q4 5,898 8 0 1356.4
2010 Q3 7,275 2 0 274.9
2010 Q2 5,065 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 4,442 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,219 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 4,274 4 1 935.9
2009 Q2 5,629 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 4,840 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 2,915 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

5 on file

2026 · 1 incident

June 4, 2026 IL · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RiverStone Group, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee alleges EE was changing fork belt and operator moved forks back and belt was stuck and released resulting in hand abrasion

2024 · 1 incident

October 30, 2024 IL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RiverStone Group, Inc. · Struck against stationary object

Employee alleges was installing some grease lines and pulled a utility knife out of their pocket. It slid in EE's hands cutting EE's left palm. EE received stitches.

2022 · 1 incident

July 18, 2022 IL · Metal/Non-Metal dryer operator, kiln operator, dry plant operator, fluid operator, bed dryer operator OTHER
RiverStone Group, Inc. · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee alleges they were getting out of the truck and they felt a pop in their lower back. Employee sought medical attention with a chiropractor.

2021 · 1 incident

April 14, 2021 IL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RiverStone Group, Inc. · Struck by flying object

Employee was changing out a troughing roller when a speck of rust/metal got into employee's right eye. Employee thought employee got metal out of eye, but eye swelled up the next morning, and sought treatment to remove piece of rust/metal.

2011 · 1 incident

November 28, 2011 IL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RiverStone Group, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee alleges he was connecting a hose under a machine and the cyl pin came out from the machine and the wedge hit him on the right side of his head causing him to receive stitches.