ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has granted a default judgment against D & C Mining Corp. of Harlan County, Ky., affirming the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration's complaint. The mine operator owes $1.67 million in unpaid civil penalties for violations of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, along with interest and administrative costs.

Fatality rates at an all-time low, while annual number of deaths is 2nd lowest

ARLINGTON, Va. – Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration released today indicates that, in 2012, mining fatality rates reached an all-time low for the second straight year. Fatality rates are calculated based on the number of mining deaths per 200,000 hours worked.

46 requests for temporary reinstatement made in 2012

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 150 citations and nine orders during special impact inspections conducted at eight coal mines and three metal/nonmetal mines last month.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a final rule to strengthen safety in the nation's most dangerous mines. The rule, which revises the Mine Safety and Health Administration's pattern of violations regulation in 30 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104, has been submitted to the Federal Register for publication. It will ensure that mine operators monitor and address the most hazardous safety problems in their mines.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 285 citations, 11 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and seven metal/nonmetal mines last month.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis released the following statement today to commemorate National Miners Day:

"Today, we honor America's miners who made the ultimate sacrifice and pay tribute to all of the men and women who make their living in this most noble profession.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has rejected an appeal by Cordero Mining LLC of Gillette, Wyo., in a worker discrimination case and affirmed a December 2011 decision by an administrative law judge of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. In that decision, the judge ordered Cordero Mining to reinstate a discharged employee to her former position, make her whole for lost wages and benefits, remove from her personnel files references to the unlawful discharge and pay a civil penalty of $40,000.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 210 citations and 14 orders during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and five metal/nonmetal mines last month.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that four mining operations have received letters putting them on notice about a potential pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The PPOV screening from which these letters resulted represents the third since MSHA established the current criteria and procedures in September 2010.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration filed 39 requests during fiscal year 2012, more than in any other year, with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for temporary reinstatements on behalf of miners who submitted complaints of discrimination in the form of a suspension, layoff, discharge or other adverse action.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has launched its annual "Winter Alert" campaign to call attention to the numerous hazards colder weather typically brings to mining operations around the nation. Statistics show that coal mine explosions occur most often during the colder months, October through March.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Mining fatality and injury rates fell to an all-time low in 2011 according to data recently released from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today introduced a new compliance assistance resource to address one of the most commonly cited violations in the metal and nonmetal mining industry: improperly guarded machinery. "Guarding Machinery at Metal & Nonmetal Mines" is a sequel to a compliance guide for guarding conveyor belts published in 2010. In that year, guarding-related violations peaked at 10,877 and accounted for one of every seven violations cited.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that the FBI Laboratory's Evidence Response Team Unit is facilitating a two-week course on conducting accident investigations for 18 of the agency's accident investigators and special investigators. The pilot training program began Sept. 24 and will continue through Oct. 5 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, W.Va.

Murray Energy Corp. subsidiaries agree to pay $1.15 million, accept 4 contributory and 3 flagrant violations, and settle other cases

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today awarded $1,250,000 in grants through its Brookwood-Sago program to seven organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

Kentucky coal mine undergoes 10th targeted inspection, served with judgment by default

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 255 citations, 13 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Stepped-up efforts by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration to educate miners about their safety and health rights, promptly and thoroughly investigate discrimination complaints, and take legal action with the help of department attorneys have led to a marked increase in the number of miners temporarily reinstated to their jobs after filing complaints of discrimination in the form of a suspension, layoff, discharge or other adverse action.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 262 citations, 19 orders and three safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at eight coal mines and five metal/nonmetal mines last month.