Greene County mine issued six federal citations
The operator of an underground coal mine in Greene County was issued six citations during the federal government’s latest inspection sweep following the explosion that killed 29 men in the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia on April 5. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) cited the 4 West Mine in Dunkard Township during inspections conducted in September targeting mines with histories of histories of poor compliance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act.
MSHA issued six citations for violating section 104(a) of the mine act to Dana Mining Co. of Pennsylvania, which is based in Morgantown, W.Va., which operates the mine.
A telephone message seeking comments left for a company representative was not returned Tuesday.
MSHA spokeswoman Amy Louviere said penalties depend on the seriousness of the violations and the company can appeal the citations.
She said a section 104(a) citation is issued for a heath or safety rule violation.
The citations allege, the mine roof was inadequately supported, a circuit breaker exceeded the maximum allowable setting, a methane detector was improperly maintained, a bottom return roller on a conveyor belt was damaged, coal accumulated in the hydraulic motor compartment of a shuttle car and the device that disconnects power from a shuttle car cable was not plainly marked and identified,
There have been no fatalities, but 43 accidents involving employees and contractors at the 4 West Mine since Dana Mining began operations in 2005, according to MSHA records.
Records show MSHA issued 828 section 104(a) citations, 19 section 103(k) citations, nine section 104 (d)(1) citations, six section 314(b) citations, four section 104 (d)(2) citations and one section 104(g)(1) citation to Dana Mining for its 4 West Mine since 2005.
Section 104 deals with health and safety standards, section 103 addresses inspections, investigations and record keeping and section 314 covers miner transport hoists.
MSHA assessed $383,204 in a total of six fines for those citations and the company has paid $154,447 toward those fines, according to records. MSHA reduced the cost of two of the fines.
Production at the mine peaked in 2008 when 895,034 tons of coal was removed.
As of the second quarter of this year, 540,791 tons have been mined, according to MSHA records.
Dana Mining is the operator of three other underground coal mines in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
They are the non-producing Titus Mine in Greene County, the active Prime No. 1 Mine in Monongalia County, W.Va., and the temporarily idled Arco No. 1 Mine in Marion County, W.Va.
During the time Dana Mining operated the Titus Mine from Oct. 15, 2002, until operations ceased in 2009, the mine received about 300 citations and was fined an estimated $117,000.
The mine produced a million tons of coal in that time, according to MSHA records. A different company operated the mine before Dana.
The Prime No 1 Mine received about 930 citations; was fined about $223,000 produced more than 6.6 million tons of coal since Dana Mining commenced operations in June 1996, according to MSHA records.
Other companies operated the mine since 1974.
Records show no production or fines at the Arco No. 1 Mine.
During last month’s inspections, MSHA issued a total of 499 citations, 61 orders and three safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 15 coal mines and 15 metal and nonmetal mines.
These concentrated inspections target mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns, including high numbers of violations or closure orders; indications of operator tactics, such as advance notification of inspections that prevent inspectors from observing violations; frequent hazardous complaints or hotline calls; plan compliance issues; inadequate workplace examinations; a high number of accidents, injuries or illnesses; fatalities; and adverse conditions such as increased methane liberation, faulty roof conditions and inadequate ventilation, according to MSHA.
“Mine operators are obligated to address all the problems that MSHA inspectors identify, yet some continue to violate standards and place miners at risk,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
“We will continue to target them and other operations that ignore fundamental safety and health laws.
“At the same time, we are beginning to see signs of improvement at some mines, an indication that these impact inspections are making a difference.”