[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 55 (Thursday, March 22, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13592-13646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1402]



[[Page 13591]]

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Part IV





Department of Labor





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Mine Safety and Health Administration



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30 CFR Part 100



Criteria and Procedures for Proposed Assessment of Civil Penalties; 
Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 55 / Thursday, March 22, 2007 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 13592]]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Part 100

RIN 1219-AB51


Criteria and Procedures for Proposed Assessment of Civil 
Penalties

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule revises MSHA's existing civil penalty 
assessment regulations and implements the civil penalty provisions of 
the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.
    This final rule will increase mine operator compliance with the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended by 
the MINER Act, and the agency's safety and health standards and 
regulations, thereby improving safety and health for miners.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective April 23, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939, [email protected], 
202-693-9440 (telephone), or 202-693-9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Discussion of Final Rule
    A. General Discussion
    B. Section-by-Section Analysis
III. Executive Order 12866
    A. Population at Risk
    B. Costs
    C. Benefits
IV. Feasibility
    A. Technological Feasibility
    B. Economic Feasibility
V. Regulatory Flexibility Act and Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)
    A. Definition of Small Mine
    B. Factual Basis for Certification
VI. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
VII. Other Regulatory Considerations
    A. The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    B. Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999: 
Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families
    C. Executive Order 12630: Government Actions and Interference 
With Constitutionally Protected Property Rights
    D. Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform
    E. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks
    F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
    G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With 
Indian Tribal Governments
    H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
    I. Executive Order 13272: Proper Consideration of Small Entities 
in Agency Rulemaking

I. Background

    On September 8, 2006, MSHA published a proposed rule to revise its 
civil penalty regulations (71 FR 53054). MSHA received written comments 
in response to the proposed rule. In addition, the agency held six 
public hearings on September 26, 2006 in Arlington, Virginia, September 
28, 2006, in Birmingham, Alabama, October 4, 2006, in Salt Lake City, 
Utah, October 6, 2006, in St. Louis, Missouri, October 17, 2006, in 
Charleston, West Virginia, and October 19, 2006, in Coraopolis, 
Pennsylvania. The comment period closed on October 23, 2006. On October 
26, 2006, MSHA reopened and extended the comment period to November 9, 
2006 (71 FR 62572). MSHA reopened the comment period to restate and 
clarify language in the proposed rule pertaining to the proposed 
deleting of the existing single penalty assessment provision. MSHA 
clarified that violations that would have been processed under the 
single penalty provision of the existing rule would, under the proposed 
rule, be processed under the regular assessment provision.
    In addition, MSHA reopened the comment period to provide interested 
persons additional time to comment on an issue that was raised at the 
public hearings in Charleston, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania, pertaining to safety and health conferences. MSHA stated 
that it intended to include a requirement in the final rule that a 
request for a safety and health conference be in writing and include a 
brief statement of the reason why each citation or order should be 
conferenced.
    The section-by-section analysis of the final rule addresses issues 
raised by comments and testimony.

II. Discussion of the Final Rule

A. General Discussion

    This final rule results in an across-the-board increase in 
penalties from the existing regulations; however, penalties increase 
more significantly for large mine operators, operators with a history 
of repeated violations of the same standard and for operators whose 
violations involve high degrees of negligence or gravity. The higher 
penalties in the final rule are intended to increase the incentives for 
mine operators to prevent and correct violations.
    MSHA notes that under the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation 
Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act), as amended by the 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the Agency is required to 
review and, as warranted, adjust penalties based on inflation at least 
every four years. On June 15, 2006, the MINER Act was enacted and 
amended section 110 of the Mine Act raising the maximum civil penalty 
to $220,000 for violations that are deemed to be flagrant. This final 
rule codifies the maximum penalty of $220,000 for flagrant violations. 
In addition, the MINER Act established minimum penalties of $2,000 and 
$4,000 for unwarrantable failure violations, and minimum penalties for 
failure to timely notify violations. Although this final rule does not 
increase the $60,000 maximum civil penalty for non-flagrant violations, 
the effect of the across-the-board penalty increases from the existing 
regulations is tantamount to an inflation adjustment. Due to these 
penalty increases, the penalties in this final rule will not be 
adjusted under the Inflation Adjustment Act until 2011.
    MSHA received numerous comments in support of and opposed to the 
proposed rule. Many commenters stated that the proposed penalty 
increases were unnecessary because between 1990 and 2005, both injuries 
and fatalities have steadily declined. Other commenters stated that the 
proposed increased penalties will not induce greater compliance with 
the Mine Act or MSHA's safety and health standards and regulations. 
Some of these commenters stated that the proposed increases will merely 
result in operators diverting money from safety and health programs to 
penalty payments. Other commenters expressed concern that MSHA did not 
provide evidence that increased penalties would result in increased 
compliance and requested that MSHA immediately release all of the 
citation and accident history data necessary to do a thorough analysis 
of the premise underlying the Agency's proposal. One commenter stated 
the example that in the year following MSHA's increase in penalties in 
2003, the number of citations actually increased by approximately 10%, 
from 110,038 to 121,225, and that that trend continued in 2005, when 
the number of citations again increased to 128,225. MSHA used 2005 
assessed violation data as the baseline for its calculations of the

[[Page 13593]]

impact of both the proposed and final rules. The Agency has placed this 
2005 violation data in the rulemaking record.
    Although some commenters stated that increasing penalties will not 
result in increased compliance by operators, MSHA's experience shows 
that penalties are an important tool in reducing fatalities, injuries, 
illnesses, and violations. The Supreme Court recognized that civil 
penalties provide a ``deterrence'' that necessarily infrequent 
inspections cannot generate. National Independent Coal Operators' Ass'n 
v. Kleppe, 423 U.S. 388, 401 (1976) (speaking of the Federal Coal Mine 
Health and Safety Act of 1969 (Coal Act)).
    The Agency recognizes that civil penalties alone may not 
significantly affect compliance with the Mine Act and MSHA's safety and 
health standards and regulations or reduce the number of mining 
accidents and injuries. The reductions in accidents and injuries that 
have been achieved since the civil penalty regulation was originally 
implemented are the result of a combination of factors such as stronger 
enforcement, changes in mining technology, improved training, accident 
reduction initiatives, compliance assistance activities, better safety 
and health programs and more attention to them on the part of mine 
management and miners, and the continued issuance of citations and 
orders and related civil penalties.
    In addition, the Agency recognizes that the citations and orders 
are issued to induce miner operators to correct hazardous conditions 
thus reducing miners' exposure. Experience and data show that far 
greater resources are associated with the correction of hazardous 
conditions than payment of a civil penalty. Correcting the hazardous 
condition may require an interruption in production or other scheduled 
activities, necessitating change in personnel and equipment.
    Nonetheless, civil penalties have contributed to improvements in 
fatalities and accident and injury rates in the mining industry. MSHA 
reviewed the Agency's accident and injury statistics for metal and 
nonmetal mines from 1973 to 2005. Since 1977, the year that the civil 
penalty sanction was applied to metal and nonmetal mining operations, 
the incidence rate for fatal injuries declined, and the incidence rate 
for the total of fatal injuries, non-fatal days lost injuries, and no 
days lost injuries also declined.
    In October 1977, when Congress discussed adopting mandatory civil 
penalties for metal and nonmetal mines under the Mine Act, the Senate 
Committee on Human Resources (Committee) discussed the relative 
improvements in rates of fatal and serious non-fatal occurrences in the 
coal industry, where civil penalties had been mandatory since 1970, 
versus the non-coal segment of the industry, where there had been no 
provision for civil penalties, mandatory or permissive. Comparing the 
fatal and disabling injury rates between coal mines and metal and 
nonmetal mines for the years 1966 through 1976, the Committee found 
that the comparison:

suggests clearly that even if the civil penalty system under the 
Coal Act has not been totally effective in implementation, the 
presence of the civil penalty sanction has resulted in substantial 
improvements which are not noted in the non-coal segment of the 
industry under the Metal Act.

S. Rep. No. 95-181, at 41 (1977).
    MSHA's approach under this final rule is consistent with the intent 
of the drafters of the Mine Act. One of the goals of revising the civil 
penalty regulations in this final rule is to place more emphasis on the 
most severe violations, such as those contributing to accidents and 
injuries, and the most severe violators, such as those operators who 
exhibit high levels of negligence. MSHA has achieved this goal by 
revising the point tables for Negligence and Gravity-Severity and -
Likelihood, so that the more severe violations will receive civil 
penalties at levels more likely to induce the operator's compliance.
    Penalties are one of many tools that Congress approved to ensure 
``a safe and healthful'' workplace for miners. Congress's intent was 
that civil penalties under the Mine Act be used to ``induce those 
officials responsible for the operation of a mine to comply with the 
Act and its standards.'' S. Rep. No. 95-181, at 41. Civil penalties 
were singled out by the sponsors of the Mine Act as ``the mechanism for 
encouraging operator compliance with safety and health standards.'' 123 
Cong. Rec. 4388 (1977) (Feb. 11, 1977) (statement of Sen. Williams).
    MSHA has structured the final rule so that increased penalties will 
induce operators to be more proactive in their approach to miner safety 
and health and will lead to overall safety and health improvements. 
Increasing penalties is consistent with Congress's intent that 
penalties:

be of an amount which is sufficient to make it more economical for 
an operator to comply with the Act's requirements than it is to pay 
the penalties assessed and continue to operate while not in 
compliance.

S. Rep. No. 95-181, at 41.

    In response to comments that stated that the proposed penalty 
increases were unnecessary because injuries and fatalities have 
steadily declined since 1990, MSHA notes that the Mine Act has resulted 
in significant improvements in the health and safety of miners. 
Nevertheless, a review of MSHA's historical data shows a high number of 
fatal accidents in 2006--47 fatalities in coal mines and 25 fatalities 
in metal and nonmetal mines--and a rising number of violations in the 
past three years, including a rising number of violations of the same 
standard and a rise in the number of serious violations.
    Several commenters supported increased penalties, but stated that 
the proposed increases were not sufficiently high to provide operators 
with enough compliance incentive. In support of this statement, these 
commenters provided the example that a violation that receives 50 
points under the existing regulations would only receive the minimum 
penalty under the penalty conversion table in the proposed rule. MSHA 
notes that points assigned in the penalty tables for each of the 
statutory criteria have been changed in the proposed rule and, that 
this change prevents accurate comparisons between points assigned in 
the penalty tables under the existing regulation with the penalty 
conversion table in the proposed rule. Using the commenters' example, 
the 774 violations that received 50 penalty points under the penalty 
tables of the existing regulation received an average penalty of $636 
(including a 30% discount for good faith, where applicable). These same 
violations would receive an average of 93 penalty points under the 
penalty tables in the proposed rule and would receive an average 
penalty of $2,134 (including a 10% discount for good faith, where 
applicable).
    Several commenters stated that the proposed penalty increases were 
too high. These commenters provided MSHA with specific examples 
comparing penalties under the existing rule with projected penalties 
under the proposed rule. MSHA is impressed with the specific examples 
they submitted which included thoughtful analysis and attention to 
detail. MSHA has analyzed these examples using its data for 2005 
assessed violations. MSHA notes that its data is comprised of all 
violations that were assessed in 2005. Some commenters may have 
submitted specific examples that relied on the issuance date rather 
than the assessment date of the violation. MSHA's analysis shows the 
following for some of the specific examples submitted by commenters.

[[Page 13594]]

    1. Jim Walter Resources, Inc., (JWR) submitted summary estimates 
for Mine Number 4 and Mine Number 7. Regarding Mine Number 4, JWR 
stated that total penalties for 2005 were $97,288 and projected that 
penalties under the proposal would be $421,521, an increase of 333%. 
MSHA's analysis shows that total penalties assessed in 2005 for this 
mine were $128,540 and that the amount under the proposed rule would be 
$421,128, an increase of 228%. Under the final rule, the total 
penalties would be $344,423 or an increase of 168%.
    Regarding Mine Number 7, JWR stated that total penalties for 2005 
were $55,131 and projected that penalties under the proposal would be 
$286,389, representing an increase of 419%. MSHA's analysis shows that 
total penalties assessed in 2005 for this mine were $65,775 and that 
the amount under the proposed rule would be $378,907, an increase of 
476%. Under the final rule, the total penalties would be $333,559 which 
is an increase of 407%. MSHA notes that the increase in penalties for 
Mine Number 7 as compared to Mine Number 4 is predominantly 
attributable to the difference in the number of penalty points for 
violations per inspection day. In addition, as stated above, MSHA's 
analysis is based on violations that were assessed in 2005 even though 
the violation may have been issued in a different year.
    2. Peabody Energy (Peabody) provided projections of penalties for 
``typical'' Sec.  75.400 violations stating that if the single penalty 
is eliminated and penalties are solely based on points, large operators 
will be at an extreme disadvantage due to their sheer size and 
production. In each example, the size of the mine is over two million 
tons, the size of controlling entity is over 10 million tons, the 
history consists of a VPID exceeding 2.1 and more than 20 violations of 
the same standard, and the gravity consists of one person potentially 
affected. The first example involves a non-significant and substantial 
(non-S&S) violation: moderate negligence, ``unlikely'' occurrence, and 
``lost work days or restricted duty.'' Peabody projected that under the 
proposed rule this violation would incur 106 penalty points for an 
initial proposed penalty of $4,440, which would be offset by a $444 
reduction for timely abatement, resulting in a total penalty of $3,996.
    The second example involves an S&S violation: moderate negligence, 
``reasonably likely'' to occur, and ``lost work days or restricted 
duty.'' Peabody projected that under the proposed rule this violation 
would incur 126 penalty points for an initial proposed penalty of 
$21,993, which would be offset by a $2,199 reduction for timely 
abatement, resulting in a total penalty of $19,794.
    The third example involves an S&S violation: High negligence, 
``reasonably likely'' to occur, and ``lost work days or restricted 
duty.'' Peabody projected that under the proposed rule this violation 
would incur 141 penalty points for an initial proposed penalty of 
$60,000 which would be offset by a $6,000 reduction for timely 
abatement, resulting in a total penalty of $54,000.
    MSHA reviewed its 2005 assessment violation data for all Sec.  
75.400 violations issued for Peabody's largest mines in 2005. MSHA 
calculated the average total penalty points and average proposed 
penalties under the existing, proposed, and final rules for Peabody 
mines that received maximum points for mine size. The results of MSHA's 
analysis are shown in the following table.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.000

    MSHA's analysis shows that under the existing rule, the total 
average points for all non-S&S Sec.  75.400 violations was 43, 
resulting in an average proposed penalty of $68. MSHA's analysis 
revealed total average points for all S&S Sec.  75.400 violations of 
47, resulting in an average proposed penalty of $576.
    Under the proposed rule, MSHA's analysis shows that the total 
average points for all non-S&S Sec.  75.400 violations was 87, 
resulting in an average proposed penalty of $874, which includes the 
``good faith'' reduction. MSHA's analysis revealed total average points 
for all S&S Sec.  75.400 violations of 106, resulting in an average 
proposed penalty was $3,996, which includes the ``good faith'' 
reduction.
    Under the final rule, MSHA's analysis shows that the total average 
points for all non-S&S Sec.  75.400 violations was 82, resulting in an 
average proposed penalty of $586. MSHA's analysis revealed total 
average points for all S&S Sec.  75.400 violations of 102, resulting in 
an average proposed penalty of $2,902, which includes the ``good 
faith'' reduction.

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    Peabody also submitted a fourth example showing the ``cheapest 
typical non-S&S'' violation. In this example, the size of mine is over 
two million tons, the size of controlling entity is over 10 million 
tons, the history consists of a VPID exceeding 2.1 and five or fewer 
repeat violations in the last 15 months, moderate negligence, an 
``unlikely'' occurrence, a severity of ``lost work days or restricted 
duty,'' and one person potentially affected. Peabody projected that, 
under the proposed rule, such a violation would incur 86 penalty points 
for an initial proposed penalty of $897 which would be offset by a $90 
reduction for timely abatement, resulting in a total penalty of $807. 
MSHA's analysis of an average non-S&S violation for Peabody mines with 
maximum points for mine size shows that under the existing rule, the 
average proposed penalty was $68, under the proposed rule, the average 
proposed penalty was $874, and under the final rule, the average 
proposed penalty was $586.
    3. Pennsylvania Coal Association stated that the removal of the 
single penalty assessment will greatly increase penalties for non-S&S 
violations that present no real degree of hazard. Pennsylvania Coal 
gave the example that under the proposal, a section 104(a), non-S&S 
violation with moderate negligence, 1.1 violations per inspection day, 
production over two million tons per year, an unlikely likelihood of 
occurrence, a severity of lost work days, and two persons potentially 
affected would receive a penalty of $512, more than 8 times the $60 
single penalty under the existing rule. Under MSHA's analysis, assuming 
three points for size of the controlling entity, the penalty for this 
violation would be $212 under the proposed rule, or $190 with the 
``good faith'' reduction, an increase of 216%. Under the final rule, 
assuming five points for size of the controlling entity, the penalty 
for this violation would be $196 or $176 with the ``good faith'' 
reduction.
    Pennsylvania Coal further stated that it believed that penalties 
under the proposal would result in an increase of 10 times over the 
existing penalties for commonly cited violations. Pennsylvania Coal 
provided the example that if the severity of the injury in the 
foregoing violation were permanently disabling and there was a 
``repeat'' history of 10 points, the penalty would increase to $1,140. 
Under MSHA's analysis, assuming three points for size of the 
controlling entity, the penalty for this violation would be $473 under 
the proposed rule, or $425 with the ``good faith'' reduction, an 
increase of 7 times over the existing penalty. Under the final rule, 
assuming five points for size of the controlling entity, the penalty 
would be $651 or $586 with the ``good faith'' reduction.
    After analyzing the commenters' projected penalties, MSHA agrees 
that the penalty increases can be substantial under the proposed rule; 
however, in many instances, the increases are not as great as 
commenters projected. This is due to a number of reasons including data 
based on issued rather than assessed violations, and use of 
hypothetical violations with sometimes incomplete data. The Agency 
believes that the penalty increases in the final rule are consistent 
with Congressional intent and are at an appropriate level to increase 
operator compliance with the Mine Act and MSHA's safety and health 
standards and regulations.
    MSHA discussed the regulatory impact analysis in support of the 
proposed rule in Section IV of the preamble to the proposed rule. The 
analysis of costs contained three inadvertent errors: (1) MSHA used the 
wrong employment size for a few independent contractor violations; (2) 
there was a small error in the formula for calculating the history for 
repeat violations; and (3) violation history penalty points were 
improperly assigned to operators with fewer than 10 violations over the 
previous 15-month period. The net effect of these errors was to 
underestimate the impact of costs of the proposal by about 2%. These 
errors have been corrected in MSHA's analysis of the final rule. A more 
detailed explanation is provided later in Section III (Executive Order 
12866) of this preamble, and any data referenced by MSHA in support of 
the proposed rule reflect the corrections.
    Some commenters expressed concern that MSHA does not use the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) definition of small business, creating an 
unfair trade disadvantage for crushed stone, sand, and gravel mines, 
which tend to be smaller mines. In analyzing the impact of a rule on 
small entities, MSHA must use the SBA definition for a small entity or, 
after consultation with the SBA Office of Advocacy, establish an 
alternative definition for the mining industry by publishing that 
definition in the Federal Register for notice and comment. MSHA has not 
established such an alternative definition and hence is required to use 
the SBA definition. The SBA defines a small entity in the mining 
industry as an establishment with 500 or fewer employees.
    MSHA has also examined the impact of agency rules on a subset of 
mines with 500 or fewer employees, i.e., those with fewer than 20 
employees, which MSHA and the mining community traditionally have 
referred to as ``small mines.'' These small mines differ from larger 
mines not only in the number of employees, but also in economies of 
scale in material produced, in the type and amount of production 
equipment, and in supply inventory. Because of these factors, their 
costs of complying with MSHA's rules and the impact of the agency's 
rules on them also will tend to be different. It is for this reason 
that ``small mines,'' traditionally defined by MSHA as those employing 
fewer than 20 workers, are of special concern to MSHA. In addition, for 
this final rule, MSHA has examined the cost on mines with five or fewer 
employees to ensure that they are not significantly and adversely 
impacted by the final rule.
    In the final rule, MSHA has carefully evaluated all of the comments 
and concerns. The Agency has revised some of the proposed provisions to 
reflect many of the commenters' concerns. MSHA's primary objective 
continues to be to develop and issue a final rule which promotes 
operator compliance with the Mine Act and MSHA's standards and 
regulations and thereby reduces violations and injuries, illnesses and 
fatalities in mines. By establishing more serious consequences for 
noncompliance with the Mine Act and MSHA's safety and health standards 
and regulations, the highest penalties under this final rule are 
directed towards those mine operators who continually allow hazardous 
conditions to exist. The final rule aims to direct mine operators who 
violate the Mine Act and MSHA's safety and health standards and 
regulations toward a more proactive approach to miner safety and 
health.

B. Section-by-Section Analysis

Scope and Purpose (Sec.  100.1)
    Final Sec.  100.1, like the existing rule, sets forth the scope and 
purpose of the final rule. It provides the criteria and procedures that 
MSHA uses to propose civil penalties under sections 105 and 110 of the 
Mine Act. Final Sec.  100.1, like the existing rule, provides that the 
purpose of this rule is to: establish a fair and equitable procedure 
for the application of the statutory criteria in determining proposed 
penalties for violations; maximize the incentives for mine operators to 
prevent and correct hazardous conditions; and assure the prompt and 
efficient processing and collection of penalties.
    Some commenters suggested that the final rule should be limited to 
the specific penalties mandated by the

[[Page 13596]]

MINER Act and that MSHA either should withdraw the proposed rule or 
delay promulgating a final rule and appoint an advisory committee to 
evaluate other aspects of the proposed rule before moving forward. In 
addition, some commenters expressed the opinion that Congress's silence 
in the MINER Act with respect to civil penalties other than those 
specifically mentioned indicated that Congress generally was satisfied 
with MSHA's existing penalty regulations. These commenters stated that 
MSHA should follow the clear and unmistakable direction provided by 
Congress and limit the final rule to only those penalty provisions 
included in the MINER Act. Other commenters opposed the appointment of 
an advisory committee to review civil penalties stating that it would 
be only a delay tactic.
    Although Congress mandated only certain penalties under the MINER 
Act, it did so by amending the Mine Act and providing the Secretary 
with additional tools ``to improve the safety of mines and mining.'' PL 
109-236, 120 Stat. 493 (June 15, 2006). MSHA has determined that there 
would be no benefit for miner safety and health by convening an 
advisory committee. The final rule is consistent with both the Mine Act 
and MINER Act's goals to improve miner safety and health through the 
use of effective civil penalties. In response to comments, and 
consistent with the MINER Act, under the final rule, operators who 
exhibit a lack of commitment to miner safety and health will receive 
the greatest increase in penalties.
    Some commenters opposed the proposed rule's across-the-board 
penalty increases, stating that this was a one-size-fits-all approach 
that unfairly penalized operators with good safety records. 
Specifically, a number of sand and gravel operators commented that the 
proposed increases should be limited to coal mines because disasters in 
coal mines generated changes in the MINER Act. These commenters further 
stated that coal mines pose greater health and safety hazards to miners 
and that such mines experience a higher number of violations. Some 
small sand and gravel operations further commented that the proposed 
increases were excessively high and would put them out of business. 
These commenters provided no specific data in support of their 
conclusion. Under the final rule, MSHA estimates that metal and 
nonmetal operators, which include small sand and gravel operators, with 
one to five employees would average a yearly increase of $149 per mine, 
compared to $213 for those with one to 20 employees.
    Under the final rule, like the existing rule, the size of the 
mining operation and the effect of a penalty on an operator's ability 
to continue in business are two of the statutory factors taken into 
consideration in determining penalties. MSHA's goal for this final rule 
is that all mine operators, consistent with the statutory purpose, will 
be in compliance with the Mine Act and Agency safety and health 
standards and regulations. In addition, consistent with the MINER Act, 
the Agency projects that operators who are the worst safety and health 
offenders will experience the largest penalty increases under the final 
rule.
    One commenter expressed concern that the proposed rule did not 
provide equitable procedures for the application of the statutory 
criteria in determining proposed penalties because the proposed rule 
treated small mines differently from large mines and because it treated 
coal mines differently from metal and non-metal mines. MSHA does not 
agree that its application of the mine size penalty criteria is 
inequitable. Under the final rule, like the existing rule, the points 
and the penalties increase as the size of the operator or its parent 
company grows. In doing so, MSHA is assuring optimal consistency in 
accordance with Congressional intent in applying the statutory criteria 
pertaining to the size of the operator's business.
    Historically, MSHA has treated coal mining operations differently 
from metal and nonmetal mining operations when determining size for 
purposes of assigning civil penalty points. This historical distinction 
was based on both Agency experience and mining industry conditions. 
MSHA has found that measuring the size of coal mining operations by 
tonnage produced is a reasonable indicator of the size of the business 
for coal operations. Tonnage produced, however, is not usually a useful 
indicator of size for metal and nonmetal mining operations because of 
the vast differences in commodities mined and methods of mining within 
that segment of the mining industry. In some instances, large volumes 
of material are mined for only a few ounces of a marketable commodity; 
in others, nearly one hundred percent of the mined material is 
marketable. In addition, the costs of production and the market prices 
may vary markedly within the metal and nonmetal industry. Thus, an 
annual tonnage measurement of metal and nonmetal operations would not 
enable MSHA to fairly evaluate the economic impact of the proposed 
penalty on each operator. MSHA's experience is that tonnage produced 
has proven to be effective for measuring the size of coal mining 
operations and annual hours worked has proven to be effective for 
measuring the size of metal and nonmetal operations.
    No substantive changes to proposed Sec.  100.1 were made in the 
final rule. Final Sec.  100.1 adopts the language in the proposed rule.
Applicability (Sec.  100.2)
    Final Sec.  100.2, like the existing rule, sets forth the 
applicability of the final rule and provides that the criteria and 
procedures in this part are applicable to all proposed assessments of 
civil penalties for violations of the Mine Act and the standards and 
regulations promulgated pursuant to the Mine Act, as amended. Final 
Sec.  100.2, like the existing rule, further provides that MSHA shall 
review each citation and order and shall make proposed assessments of 
civil penalties.
    MSHA received no significant comments regarding proposed Sec.  
100.2. Final Sec.  100.2 adopts the language in the proposed rule.
Determination of Penalty; Regular Assessment (Sec.  100.3)
(a) General
    This section of the final rule addresses the determination of a 
penalty amount under the regular assessment provision. Final Sec.  
100.3(a)(1) is derived from existing Sec.  100.3(a), and provides the 
criteria for determining penalty assessments. The final rule, like the 
proposal, makes several non-substantive, clarifying changes. It divides 
existing Sec.  100.3(a) into two paragraphs designated as Sec.  
100.3(a)(1) and (a)(2).
    Final Sec.  100.3(a)(1), like the proposed rule, provides that the 
operator of any mine in which a violation of a mandatory health or 
safety standard occurs or who violates any other provision of the Mine 
Act shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $60,000. It 
further provides that each occurrence of a violation of a mandatory 
safety or health standard may constitute a separate offense. In 
addition, it provides that the amount of the proposed civil penalty 
shall be based on the criteria set forth in sections 105(b) and 110(i) 
of the Mine Act. These criteria are:
    (1) The appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business 
of the operator charged;
    (2) The operator's history of previous violations;
    (3) Whether the operator was negligent;

[[Page 13597]]

    (4) The gravity of the violation;
    (5) The demonstrated good faith of the operator charged in 
attempting to achieve rapid compliance after notification of a 
violation; and
    (6) The effect of the penalty on the operator's ability to continue 
in business.
    MSHA received no comments on proposed Sec.  100.3(a)(1) and final 
Sec.  100.3(a)(1) adopts the language in the proposed rule.
    Final Sec.  100.3(a)(2), substantively unchanged from the existing 
rule, sets forth the process for determining a penalty under the 
regular assessment provision. Under paragraph (a)(2), a regular 
assessment is determined by first assigning the number of penalty 
points to the violation by using the criteria and tables set forth in 
this section. The total number of penalty points is then converted into 
a dollar amount under the penalty conversion table in paragraph (g) of 
this section. If applicable, the amount of the penalty will be adjusted 
for good faith as provided under paragraph (f) of this section, and/or 
the operator's ability to continue in business as provided under 
paragraph (g) of this section.
    Several commenters suggested that MSHA replace the proposed point 
system with alternative methods for computing penalties. For example, 
one commenter suggested that MSHA consider an alternative to the 
regular assessment process in which each violation would have a 
designated baseline penalty. Under this suggested approach, factors 
such as an operator's history and negligence, and the gravity of the 
violation would be used to increase the penalty, but the baseline 
penalty would not be reduced because of an operator's size, good faith 
in abatement, or ability to continue in business. MSHA has evaluated 
this suggested alternative and determined that it is not in accord with 
the intent of the drafters of the Mine Act because it does not 
appropriately consider the statutory factors when determining 
penalties. Therefore, final Sec.  100.3(a)(2) retains the proposed 
regular assessment structure and language.
(b) Appropriateness of the Penalty to the Size of the Operator's 
Business
    Final Sec.  100.3(b) is derived from existing Sec.  100.3(b). Like 
the existing rule, final Sec.  100.3(b) continues to provide that the 
appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the operator's business 
is calculated by using both the size of the mine and the size of the 
controlling entity of the mine. In addition, final paragraph (b) 
continues to provide that the terms ``annual tonnage'' and ``annual 
hours worked'' mean coal produced and hours worked, respectively, in 
the previous calendar year. It also continues to provide that where a 
full year of data is not available, the coal produced or hours worked 
is prorated on an annual basis. Finally, it increases the maximum 
number of points that can be accrued under this criterion, from 15 
points under the existing rule to 25 points.
    MSHA proposed editorial, clarifying changes to this provision. MSHA 
proposed adding the statement that the size of coal mines and their 
controlling entities is measured by coal production, the size of metal 
and nonmetal mines and their controlling entities is measured by hours 
worked, and the size of independent contractors is measured by the 
total hours worked at all mines. No comments were received regarding 
this proposed clarification. Therefore, final Sec.  100.3(b) adopts the 
additional statement as proposed.
    Although final Sec.  100.3(b) retains the proposed 25 maximum 
number of points under the size criterion, allocation of points based 
on the size of coal mines, metal and nonmetal mines, controlling 
entities, and independent contractors is different from the proposed 
rule. Under final Sec.  100.3(b), the maximum number of points based on 
the size of coal mines and metal and nonmetal mines is reduced from the 
proposed 20 points to 15 points, and the maximum number of points for 
controlling entities of coal mines and metal and nonmetal mines is 
increased from the proposed five points to 10 points. Accordingly, the 
total maximum number of points for the size of a coal or metal or 
nonmetal mining operation is 25. In addition, the maximum number of 
points for independent contractors is increased from 20 to 25 points.
    MSHA received numerous comments both in support of and against 
point increases based on mine size. Commenters opposed to giving 
consideration to size expressed concern that, under the proposed rule, 
nearly a quarter of all coal mines and more than half of all metal and 
nonmetal mines were receiving fewer points merely because of size even 
though many health and safety violations are cited at such smaller 
operations. In addition, commenters expressed concern that larger 
operations would receive excessive points under the proposed rule even 
though larger mines typically have more comprehensive safety programs 
than smaller mines. This final rule is responsive to many of these 
concerns.
    With respect to comments pertaining to the proposed increase in 
points for mine size, the Mine Act specifically requires that the size 
of an operator's business be considered in determining the amount of a 
penalty. In response to comments, however, MSHA has made several 
changes to the mine size point tables in the final rule. First, MSHA 
created more categories for the annual tonnage range for smaller coal 
mines and the annual hours worked range for smaller metal and nonmetal 
mines.
    In addition, MSHA raised the penalty points for the smallest coal 
mine size from zero points to one point. This is because coal mines in 
the smallest mine size, according to annual tonnage, include 
preparation plants that report no production, although many employ 20 
or more workers. Therefore, MSHA determined that it would further the 
purpose of this rulemaking to increase points in this size range. As a 
result of these changes, smaller coal mines would tend to receive more 
size penalty points on average under the final rule as compared with 
the proposed rule. For example, a small coal mine with coal production 
between 0 and 7,500 tons will receive one point under the final rule as 
opposed to 0 points under the proposed rule.
    Under final Sec.  100.3(b), MSHA has increased the maximum number 
of points from 10 under the existing rule to 15 for the largest coal 
operations and metal and nonmetal operations. MSHA proposed increased 
points for larger operations because in order to provide an equal 
deterrent, the penalties must be higher for larger mines (with 
potentially higher revenue) in order to provide an equal deterrent. In 
addition, the Agency anticipated that higher penalties would be needed 
to help induce these operations, with more complex management 
structures, to take notice of and correct safety and health violations. 
Accordingly, final Sec.  100.3(b) increases the maximum number of 
points from 10 under the existing rule to 15 (as opposed to the 20 
points in the proposal).
    With respect to independent contractors, MSHA proposed to increase 
the maximum number of penalty points from 10 to 20 to assure that the 
amount of the penalty is an appropriate economic inducement of future 
compliance by the independent contractor. This was accomplished by 
doubling the number of penalty points for any given number of annual 
hours worked. MSHA has reviewed the violations assessed in 2005 
pertaining to independent contractors and determined that the maximum 
number of points for independent contractor size should be raised from 
20 in the proposed rule to 25 in the final rule.

[[Page 13598]]

Under the final rule, all mine operators are subject to a maximum of 25 
points for size. MSHA reviewed the violations that were assessed in 
2005 and found that for most employment sizes, operator penalties were 
at least 50% higher, and in some cases more than 100% higher, than the 
penalties received by independent contractors. MSHA has concluded, from 
its review of penalties under the proposed rule, that some significant 
part of the discrepancy between operator and independent contractor 
penalties was due to the fact that operators received a maximum of 25 
penalty points for size while independent contractors received a 
maximum of 20 penalty points for size. Accordingly, MSHA has increased 
the maximum size penalty points for independent contractors to 25 
points.
    In addition, as was done for operators, MSHA has created more 
categories capturing the annual hours worked range for smaller 
independent contractors. As a result, smaller independent contractors 
would tend to receive more penalty points for size on average under the 
final rule than under the proposed rule. For example, an independent 
contractor with 5,001 to 10,000 annual hours worked would receive two 
penalty points for size under the final rule as compared to zero 
penalty points for size under the proposed rule.
    In reallocating the points for size for independent contractors, 
MSHA evaluated the violations that were assessed in 2005 and compared 
the number of violations per contractor with the given contractor size 
points under the existing rule, proposed rule, and final rule. MSHA's 
primary concern was to ensure that the average penalties per violation 
for independent contractors of any given employment size would be 
similar to the average penalties for coal and metal and nonmetal 
operators of a similar employment size.
    In addition, MSHA received comments both in support of and against 
the Agency's request for comments pertaining to whether greater weight 
should be placed on the size of controlling entities. Proposed Sec.  
100.3(b) retained the existing maximum of five points for controlling 
entities; however, MSHA specifically requested comments on whether, in 
considering the size of the operator, greater weight should be placed 
on the size of the controlling entity. Some commenters supported 
placing greater weight on controlling entities so that smaller 
individual mines that are owned and controlled by larger entities would 
receive higher penalties. Those commenters stated, however, that for 
purposes of assessing a sufficiently high penalty that would get the 
attention of the controlling entity, an accurate measure of the 
controlling entity's size should be revenues, and not annual tonnage or 
hours worked, because many controlling entities could be involved in a 
number of industries and businesses that are not mining-related. Other 
commenters who supported placing greater weight on controlling entities 
questioned whether it would be a workable provision. Those commenters 
were concerned that because the mining industry is so fluid, tracking 
such information may be all but impossible, overly burdensome, and too 
labor intensive, and therefore beyond the agency's ability to 
administer.
    Some commenters opposed placing greater weight on the controlling 
entity. Some of those commenters stated that the Mine Act only 
specifies the size of the operator as a penalty criterion, and such 
specification implies that the size of some other entity in the 
corporate chain should not be a consideration in calculating the size 
of the penalty. Other commenters opposed placing greater weight on the 
controlling entity because it would create a financial disadvantage for 
small operations owned by larger companies and thereby promote an 
adverse competitive environment in local markets.
    MSHA agrees with comments in support of placing greater weight on 
controlling entities and accordingly has increased the maximum 
controller size penalty points from five to 10. Congress specifically 
required that the size not only of the particular mine involved in the 
violation, but the size of the operator's ``business'' is to be taken 
into account. MSHA has historically interpreted this statutory 
provision to include both the size of the mine and the size of the 
entity that controls the mine. Business judgments affecting the health 
and safety of miners are made at various levels of an organization's 
structure. Penalties are intended to encourage management at all levels 
to respond positively to the health and safety concerns affecting 
miners. In addition, Congress expressed its intent to place the 
responsibility for compliance with the Mine Act on those who control or 
supervise the operation of mines as well as on those who operate them. 
S. Rep. No. 95-181, at 40-41. Upper-level management decisions such as 
those affecting capital expenditures, the basic nature and scope of a 
corporate safety and health program, the hiring of top mine management 
officials, and other policy matters have a profound effect upon safety 
and health conditions at individual mines. Thus, penalties should be 
increased for controlling entities in order to influence all levels of 
decisionmaking. Further, the Mine Act specifically requires 
consideration be given to the size of the operator's business. MSHA 
reallocated the points for controlling entities and coal and metal and 
nonmetal mine size to achieve a more equitable distribution of points.
    MSHA does not think that the specific comment that opposed placing 
greater weight on the controlling entity because it would create a 
financial disadvantage for small operations owned by larger companies 
is accurate. The comment assumes that fines assessed against smaller 
operations owned by larger entities are not reflected in the overall 
profit margin of the controlling entity.
    In addition, for the same reasons stated in the above discussion 
concerning measuring the size of coal mines and metal and nonmetal 
mines, MSHA will continue to measure the size of controlling entities 
under this final rule as it does under the existing rule. The size of a 
controlling entity for coal mines is measured by annual tonnage and the 
size of a controlling entity for metal and nonmetal mines is measured 
by annual hours worked. MSHA intends to continue its existing practice 
of considering only the mining operations in which a controlling entity 
is involved in when determining the size of the controlling entity. 
This method has been effective as a proxy for revenue and the data are 
readily available to MSHA through the existing reporting requirements 
under 30 CFR part 50.
    Final Sec.  100.3(b) modifies the points for size from the proposed 
rule. Relative to the existing rule, final Sec.  100.3(b) increases the 
points for the size according to the following tables.

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(c) History of Previous Violations
    Final Sec.  100.3(c) is derived from existing Sec.  100.3(c). Final 
Sec.  100.3(c), like the proposed rule, provides that an operator's 
history of previous violations is based on both the total number of 
violations and the number of repeat violations of the same citable 
provision of a standard in a preceding 15-month period. Final Sec.  
100.3(c) clarifies that the repeat aspect of the history criterion in 
paragraph (c)(2) applies to operators only after an operator has 
received 10 violations, and to independent contractor operators only 
after an independent contractor has received 6 violations. In addition, 
only assessed violations that have been paid or finally adjudicated, or 
have become final orders of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review 
Commission (Commission), will be included in determining an operator's 
history.
    Proposed Sec.  100.3(c) clarified the existing provision by adding 
the phrase ``or have become final orders of the Commission'' in the 
second sentence of this paragraph to reflect MSHA's intent that only 
violations which have become final be included in an operator's 
history. In addition, the proposal made several substantive changes to 
existing Sec.  100.3(c). An operator's history of violations under 
existing Sec.  100.3(c) was based solely on the overall number of 
violations cited against an operator during a preceding 24-month 
period. Under the proposal, the period of time would be shortened to 15 
months and an operator's history of violations would include two 
components: the total number of violations and the number of repeat 
violations in that 15-month period.
    MSHA received numerous comments with respect to these proposed 
changes. Several commenters opposed the 15-month period. These 
commenters expressed concern that the proposed 15-month period would 
deprive MSHA of critical information about an operator's past safety 
record, particularly for aggregate mining operations that are seasonal 
or intermittent, and could result in lower penalties, particularly for 
repeat violators. One commenter criticized MSHA for not publishing data 
that the Agency used to determine that the effect of the shorter time 
period would have a negligible effect on an independent contractor's 
history. On the other hand, many commenters supported the shorter time 
period because it provided a more current or

[[Page 13604]]

more realistic indication of an operator's compliance.
    MSHA has determined that the proposed 15-month period will provide 
the Agency with sufficient data to accurately evaluate an operator's 
compliance record, including any trend, even for mining operations that 
are inspected on a less-frequent basis, e.g., seasonal or intermittent 
operations. MSHA reviewed violations that were assessed in 2005 and 
determined that because it takes approximately three months for a 
penalty assessment to become a final order of the Commission, the 
proposed 15-month period would provide the Agency with at least one 
full year of data for coal and metal and nonmetal operations, and for 
independent contractors.
    The shortened timeframe of 15 months provides MSHA with a more 
recent compliance history than the 24-month period under the existing 
rule. In addition, MSHA believes that operators who violate the Mine 
Act and MSHA's health and safety standards and regulations should 
receive penalties for those violations as close as practicable to the 
time the violation occurs in order to provide a more appropriate 
incentive for changing compliance behavior.
    For coal and metal and nonmetal operations, the data would be 
normalized by the amount of inspection time resulting in data 
comparable to that of the 24-month period under the existing rule. MSHA 
analyzed the data for operator violations that were assessed in 2005 to 
determine the impact of changing to a 15-month period. For coal and 
metal and nonmetal operator violations that were assigned history 
penalty points in 2005, and had a minimum of 10 violations during the 
15-month period, the average penalty points using a preceding 24-month 
period was 7.5 per violation. Using a preceding 15-month period, the 
average was 7.6 penalty points per violation.
    For independent contractors, there is a negligible difference 
between calculating an independent contractor's history of violations 
under the proposed rule and under the existing rule. This is so because 
it generally takes up to three months for a violation to become a final 
order and, therefore, the 15-month period provides MSHA with at least 
one full year of data from which to calculate violation history. MSHA 
reviewed violations that were assessed in 2005, which show that there 
were 3,844 contractors that were issued at least one citation in the 
24-month period from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005. Using the 
same number of months and the annualized calculation that is used to 
determine violation history in the existing rule, these contractors 
were issued an average of 2.3 violations per year with a median of one 
violation per year during this time frame. Using the 15-month period 
without annualizing the number of violations as proposed, these same 
contractors were issued an average of 2.9 violations with a median of 
one violation during the 15-month period between October 1, 2004 and 
December 31, 2005.
    Several commenters expressed concern with the Agency's proposal to 
use violations that have become final orders of the Commission, stating 
that this will encourage operators to increase penalty contests to 
avoid counting the violation in an operator's history. MSHA included 
the insertion of the phrase ``final orders of the Commission'' to 
clarify the Agency's practice, in existence since 1982, to use only 
violations that have become final orders of the Commission in 
determining an operator's history of violations. This practice will 
continue to provide a measure of fairness by not including in an 
operator's history those violations that are in the adjudicatory 
process which may ultimately be dismissed or vacated. As each penalty 
contest becomes final, however, the violation will be included in an 
operator's history as of the date it becomes final.
    In consideration of all comments, final Sec.  100.3(c) retains the 
final order language and shortens the period of time from 24 to 15 
months for determining an operator's history of violations as proposed.
    Several commenters expressed confusion regarding the number of 
violations that would trigger application of the repeat violation 
provision in proposed paragraph (c)(2). MSHA intends that the repeat 
violation provision in final paragraph (c)(2) would only apply to 
contractors after an operator has received 10 violations, and to 
independent contractor operators only after an independent contractor 
has received 6 violations. Therefore, final Sec.  100.3(c) includes 
clarifying language.
    Final Sec.  100.3(c)(1) is a new paragraph derived from existing 
Sec.  100.3(c). Final Sec.  100.3(c)(1), like the proposed rule, 
provides that history penalty points are assigned on the basis of the 
number of violations per inspection day (VPID) for coal operations and 
metal and nonmetal operations. Under final paragraph (c)(1), penalty 
points are not assigned to coal operations and metal and nonmetal 
operations that receive fewer than 10 violations in a preceding 15-
month period. For independent contractors, final Sec.  100.3(c)(1), 
like the proposed rule, provides that penalty points are assigned on 
the basis of the total number of violations at all mines. Penalty 
points are not assigned to independent contractors with fewer than 6 
violations. The maximum number of points that an operator may receive 
for this criterion is 25 points.
    Most commenters supported the proposed continuation of using VPID 
to calculate points for coal and metal and nonmetal operator's history 
of violations, stating that VPID provides the truest measure of an 
operator's compliance. Some of these commenters, however, requested 
that MSHA clarify its definition of an inspection day. These commenters 
stated that MSHA's method of determining inspection days is different 
between coal mines and metal and nonmetal mines, which affects how 
points are computed.
    MSHA's definition of VPID (Violations per Inspection Day) is 
calculated by taking the total number of assessed violations at a mine 
for a specified period that have either been paid or have become a 
final order of the Commission and dividing it by the total number of 
inspection days at the mine during the same specified period. There is 
no functional difference between a violation that an operator pays and 
a final order of the Commission.
    Prior to April 2005, MSHA used different definitions of an 
inspection day for coal and metal and nonmetal mines. For coal mines, 
each mine visit by each Authorized Representative of the Secretary (AR) 
was considered a separate inspection day. For metal and nonmetal mines, 
the total time for each inspection event was divided by five hours to 
determine the number of inspection days for that event. For both coal 
and metal and nonmetal operations, the number of inspection days were 
then summed for the specified period. In April 2005, MSHA began its 
transition to use the per-visit method previously used only for coal 
mines for all types of mines. MSHA currently calculates inspection days 
for assessment purposes by counting one inspection day for each AR that 
spends any on-site inspection time during any calendar day. Supervisory 
and trainee time is excluded from the inspection day calculation as are 
non-inspection activities. The same method is used for all coal, metal, 
and nonmetal mines.
    Some commenters expressed concern that the proposed new provision 
that history penalty points not be assigned to coal operations and 
metal and nonmetal operations with fewer than 10 violations in a 
preceding 15-month period essentially amounted to a free pass for small 
mines and constituted selective enforcement of the Mine Act. MSHA

[[Page 13605]]

projects that this new provision would work similar to existing Sec.  
100.4(b), which excludes from excessive history mines having 10 or 
fewer assessed violations in a preceding 24-month period. In making a 
decision to include the new provision in the proposed rule, MSHA 
considered various factors, such as small, seasonal, and intermittent 
operations, all of which may result in an operation having a low number 
of inspection days during the specified period. For such operations, 
even though the total number of violations may be low, i.e., three 
violations in a preceding 15-month period, the VPID could easily be 
greater than the highest VPID level, or 2.1, and the operator would 
receive the maximum number of 25 points. To avoid the inequitable 
result of subjecting any mining operation with only a few violations in 
a preceding 15-month period to an unrealistically high VPID, MSHA 
concludes that the new provision, under which penalty points are not 
assigned to coal operations and metal and nonmetal operations with 
fewer than ten violations in a preceding 15-month period, is necessary. 
Therefore, the final rule includes the proposed language.
    Several commenters suggested, as an alternative to the proposal, 
that the final rule include a provision that history penalty points not 
be assigned to independent contractors with fewer than 10 violations in 
a preceding 15-month period. In considering this suggestion, MSHA 
reviewed its violation data which showed that between October 1, 2004 
and December 31, 2005, approximately 500 contractors would have 
received history penalty points for 6 or more violations during a 15-
month period. This number would be reduced, however, to approximately 
200 if contractors with fewer than 10 violations were not assessed 
history points. Stated differently, under MSHA's violation data, 11% of 
the independent contractor violations would have received history 
penalty points for six or more violations during a previous 15-month 
period. This percentage would be reduced, however, to approximately 6% 
if contractors with fewer than 10 violations were not assessed history 
points. Although there was strong support for the suggested 
alternative, MSHA has decided that the alternative does not further the 
purpose of this rulemaking and that the Agency will retain the proposed 
language that penalty points not be assigned to independent contractors 
with fewer than 6 violations in a preceding 15-month period.
    MSHA specifically requested comments as to whether the Agency 
should adopt the proposed approach for calculating an independent 
contractor's history of violations by using the total number of 
assessed violations at all mines during a preceding 15-month period, or 
whether the Agency should use an annualized 2-year average as it does 
under the existing rule. Under the existing rule, the number of 
violations for independent contractors is based on an annual average of 
all violations over a two year period at all mines. MSHA received 
several comments expressing skepticism with the Agency's statement that 
only a minimal increase in the average assessment issued to independent 
contractors would result by eliminating the annualized average. In 
addition, some commenters suggested that MSHA use VPIDs when computing 
contractor history. These commenters stated that contractors are 
required to have a single MSHA contractor ID number for nationwide 
operations, and that if working daily at multiple mine sites across the 
country, that contractor is likely to be inspected far more frequently 
than the average mine operator. These commenters concluded that MSHA's 
proposal lacks an adequate foundation and results in unfair treatment 
of independent contractors.
    VPID cannot be used to calculate a contractor's history of 
violations because MSHA does not record inspection time for 
contractors. As explained above, MSHA tracks contractor violations by 
counting total violations within a specified period. Although MSHA 
received some comments critical of the proposed method, it has proved 
to be both successful and practical in calculating a contractor's 
violation history under the existing rule.
    The proposed rule increased the maximum number of points under this 
criterion from 20 under the existing regulation to 25 points. The final 
rule retains the proposed 25 maximum points; however, MSHA raised 
penalty points for independent contractors with 8 to 50 violations 
during the previous 15-month period, relative to what was proposed. The 
additional increase in points reflects MSHA's desire to increase points 
for independent contractors so as to reduce the discrepancy in 
penalties between operators and independent contractors.
    Tables II-6 and II-7 compare the existing and final penalty point 
scales for coal and metal and nonmetal operators and independent 
contractors.

[[Page 13606]]

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[[Page 13607]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.007

    In the proposal, the Agency added a new component to the history 
criterion to target operators who allowed the same violations to recur, 
without correcting the underlying root cause. The new Sec.  
100.3(c)(2), like the proposal,

[[Page 13608]]

adds repeat violations of the same citable provision of a standard to 
an operator's history of violations and could account for a maximum of 
20 penalty points. Under the final rule, an operator would not receive 
repeat penalty points until that operator had a minimum of 6 repeat 
violations in a preceding 15-month period.
    In response to MSHA's request for comments on this proposal, many 
commenters opposed it because they believed that it counted some 
violations twice, once in the overall violation history and again in 
the repeat violation category, merely for the purpose of increasing 
penalties. In addition, some of these commenters stated that MSHA's 
many broad performance-oriented standards are sometimes applied to 
multiple conditions that are in reality, quite different and that, in 
these circumstances, operators would be unfairly penalized for repeat 
violations which were intended to cover only the same or similar 
conditions. Also, some commenters expressed concern that increased 
penalties for repeat violations would be unfair in situations in which 
an MSHA inspector issues multiple citations for multiple violations of 
the same hazard.
    Although some commenters opposed the repeat violation provision as 
being unfair and redundant, other commenters supported it. MSHA 
believes that this new provision is consistent with and responsive to 
Congress's desire to curb repeat violations. Reporting on the bill that 
became the Mine Act, the Senate Committee on Human Resources stated:

    In evaluating the history of the operator's violations in 
assessing penalties, it is the intent of the Committee that repeated 
violations of the same standard, particularly within a matter of a 
few inspections, should result in the substantial increase in the 
amount of the penalty to be assessed. Seven or eight violations of 
the same standard within a period of only a few months should 
result, under the statutory criteria, in an assessment of a penalty 
several times greater than the penalty assessed for the first such 
violation.

S. Rep. No. 95-181, at 43.
    MSHA analyzed violation data for the 15-month period from January 
1, 2005, through March 31, 2006. These data showed that often 
inspectors issued citations for the same safety and health hazards at 
the same operation within a specified period of time. From these data, 
the Agency concludes that once a condition is identified, these 
operators are correcting that particular condition without addressing 
the root cause of the problem. This new provision is aimed at 
preventing these types of occurrences and thereby providing a 
systematic improvement to miner safety and health.
    Some of the commenters who supported the proposed repeat violation 
provision expressed concern that it was too narrowly construed because 
it only counted violations of the same subsection of an MSHA standard. 
One commenter provided the example that violations for combustible 
materials under 30 CFR 75.400 should not be dissected into the specific 
nature of the combustible material, i.e., paper, coal dust, wood, etc., 
when considering repeat status. Another commenter suggested, as an 
alternative, that MSHA retain its discretion to use broader categories 
of violations of standards in determining whether a company is a repeat 
violator.
    MSHA does not agree that the repeat provision should include 
broader categories of violations. MSHA analyzed violation data for the 
15-month period from January 1, 2005, through March 31, 2006. MSHA's 
analysis, interpreting ``same standard'' to mean ``same citable 
provision,'' showed that 698 of the 10,227 mines with violations had at 
least 6 violations of the same citable provision of a standard. 
Further, 99 of the 698 mines had more than 20 violations of the same 
citable provision during the 15-month period. Limiting repeat 
violations to the same citable provision targets those operators who 
show a repeated lack of commitment to miner safety and health; this is 
precisely the type of behavior that the Agency seeks to change.
    MSHA specifically requested comments on whether, in determining 
penalty points for repeat violations, the Agency should factor in the 
number of inspection days during which the repeat violations were 
cited.
    Several commenters opposed factoring in the number of inspection 
days when counting violations under this provision. Most commenters, 
however, supported using repeat violations per inspection day (RPID) to 
calculate repeat violations. These commenters expressed concern that 
operators of large mines generally receive more violations than smaller 
mines solely because larger mines have a greater number of inspections 
and, therefore, calculating repeat violations using RPID would provide 
a level of fairness missing from the proposed rule. The application of 
RPID to the new repeat provision would account for increased inspector 
presence in large mines and would place all mines on a more equitable 
basis. Therefore, this final rule incorporates a new repeat violations 
table which applies RPID to the calculation for coal and metal and 
nonmetal operations. Under this table, repeat points apply only where 
there have been a minimum of 6 repeat violations. In addition, for the 
same reasons as stated previously, MSHA will not apply the repeat 
criterion until a coal and metal and nonmetal operator has received a 
minimum of 10 violations within a preceding 15-month period.
    RPID cannot be used to calculate repeat violations for independent 
contractors because MSHA does not record inspection time for 
contractors. Therefore, the final rule, like the proposed rule, uses 
the total number of violations in a 15-month period for establishing 
repeat violation history for independent contractors. Although MSHA 
received some comments critical of the proposal with respect to 
independent contractors, the Agency's historical method of calculating 
history for independent contractors has proved to be both successful 
and practical.
    The final rule revises the proposed table for repeat violations for 
independent contractors by raising the penalty points for contractors 
with 6 to 20 repeat violations during the previous 15-month period. 
Under the final rule, an independent contractor will receive the 
maximum 20 points for 15 or more repeat violations during the previous 
15-month period. These revisions reflect MSHA's desire to increase 
points for independent contractors, so as to reduce the discrepancy in 
penalties between operators and independent contractors. The final 
rule, therefore, retains the proposed provision for repeat violations 
for independent contractors.
    MSHA requested comments on whether all violations should be used to 
calculate repeat violations, or whether only S&S violations should be 
used. Many commenters stated it is unfair to count non-S&S violations 
in the repeat violations provision because it would subject operators 
to significantly higher penalties for repeated violations that have 
little or nothing to do with miner safety and health, such as repeated 
violations of paperwork standards or merely technical violations.
    Other commenters, however, stated that MSHA should look at all 
violations, including non-S&S citations, in calculating penalties for 
repeat violations because even non-S&S violations can adversely affect 
miner safety and health. MSHA agrees. The final rule includes all 
violations, both S&S and non-S&S, in the calculation of repeat 
violation history. Even though the violations that were assessed in 
2005 show that two-thirds of all violations were non-S&S violations, 
non-S&S violations of technical

[[Page 13609]]

standards and low-gravity violations have the potential to pose a 
health or safety danger to miners. By excluding non-S&S violations from 
this provision, MSHA would not be taking a proactive approach to 
advancing miner safety and health; non-S&S violations can lead to S&S 
violations and even greater hazards to miners. In addition, including 
non-S&S violations would be consistent with Congress's intent that 
penalties must provide an effective deterrent against all offenders, 
and particularly against offenders with records of past violations, 
regardless of whether they are S&S or non-S&S.
    Some commenters who opposed the proposed repeat violation provision 
stated that, if the provision is adopted, MSHA should avoid retroactive 
application of the provision by not including violations that occurred 
before promulgation of the final rule. These commenters stated that, 
had they known that violations that occurred prior to the final rule 
could be used to trigger significantly higher penalties, they would 
have contested those violations to avoid inclusion under the repeat 
violations provision. Final paragraph (c)(2) does not apply the repeat 
violation provision retroactively. The repeat violation provision under 
paragraph (c)(2), like the total number of violations provision under 
paragraph (c)(1), imposes higher penalties for violations that occur 
after publication of this final rule. MSHA, however, has the authority 
to consider violations which occurred before promulgation of this final 
rule as part of an operator's history of violations, when determining 
penalties for violations that occur after issuance of the final rule. 
In taking this action, MSHA would not be impairing operator rights, 
increasing an operator's liability for past violations, or imposing new 
duties with respect to violations that have already occurred. Rather, 
MSHA would be taking past violations into consideration in determining 
a penalty for a violation that occurred after promulgation of this 
final rule. MSHA, however, plans to pay particular attention to any 
circumstances resulting in an unfair penalty increase. Under such 
circumstances, MSHA may process the violation under the special 
assessment provision to determine a more appropriate penalty.
    Penalty points for the number of repeat violations for coal and 
metal and nonmetal operations are presented in Table II-8. Penalty 
points for the number of repeat violations for independent contractors 
are presented in Table II-9.

[[Page 13610]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.008


[[Page 13611]]


(d) Negligence
    Final Sec.  100.3(d), derived from the existing rule, provides for 
evaluating the degree of negligence involved in a violation under five 
categories: No negligence, low negligence, moderate negligence, high 
negligence, and reckless disregard. Under the final rule, like the 
proposal, no negligence receives 0 points, low negligence receives 10 
points, moderate negligence receives 20 points, high negligence 
receives 35 points, and reckless disregard receives 50 points. Moderate 
negligence, high negligence, and reckless disregard receive 
increasingly higher penalty points under the final rule. Penalty points 
for these latter categories also are higher than those in the existing 
rule, reflecting MSHA's intent to target operators who exhibit an 
increasing lack of commitment to and disregard for miner safety and 
health.
    Several commenters agreed with the proposed points increase for the 
three highest levels of negligence. Several commenters opposed the 
proposed increases as being excessive and stated that the degrees of 
negligence are subjective and are often evaluated inconsistently by 
MSHA inspectors.
    MSHA expanded the levels of negligence from three to five in 1982, 
in response to comments recommending more definite criteria for the 
assignment of penalty points to an operator's negligence. 47 FR 22286, 
22289-90 (May 21, 1982). In so doing, MSHA intended that five levels of 
negligence would allow inspectors to more appropriately consider all of 
the facts and circumstances surrounding a violative condition or 
practice. Although negligence evaluations can be subjective, the five 
levels of negligence permit MSHA inspectors to exercise independent 
judgment based on the circumstances surrounding the violation and to 
make appropriate decisions with respect to the nature or existence of 
mitigating circumstances. Negligence is defined in the rule and in the 
negligence section of the ``Citation and Order Writing Handbook for 
Coal Mines and Metal and Nonmetal Mines'' at http://www.MSHA.gov. The 
Handbook provides guidance to MSHA compliance personnel when issuing or 
reviewing citations and orders, and is intended to achieve consistent 
enforcement.
    MSHA disagrees with the comments that the increase in penalty 
points for negligence is excessive. The increase in penalty points 
included in the final rule is in accord with the Mine Act's requirement 
to consider an operator's negligence when assessing penalties. This 
aspect of the final rule was designed so that higher penalties would be 
assigned to operators who exhibit increasingly higher levels of 
negligence, i.e., a lack of care towards protection of miners from 
safety and health hazards. MSHA intends that the final rule's increase 
in penalty points for the negligence criterion will result in increased 
compliance with the Mine Act and MSHA's safety and health standards and 
regulations and a greater commitment to safety and health on the part 
of mine operators. No changes were made to the proposal; the final rule 
adopts the proposed language.
    Table II-10 shows the penalty points for negligence under the 
existing and final rule.

[[Page 13612]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.009

(e) Gravity
    Final Sec.  100.3(e) is derived from the existing provision and, 
like the proposal, provides that the gravity or seriousness of a 
violation is determined by three factors: (1) The likelihood of 
occurrence of an event, (2) the severity of injury or illness if the 
event has occurred or were to occur, and (3) the number of persons 
potentially affected. The final rule, like the proposal, increases 
penalty points assigned under this provision for each of the three 
gravity factors as follows: (1) Points for likelihood of occurrence 
increase from 10 to 50; (2) points for severity of injury or illness 
increase from 10 to 20; and (3) points for the number of persons 
potentially affected increase from 10 to 18. The total maximum points 
is increased from 30 to 88 under the final gravity criterion.
    Several commenters supported the proposed increased points for 
gravity. One commenter suggested that the proposed points for the 
severity and persons potentially affected should have increased at the 
same rate as the likelihood factor. Another commenter, who supported 
increased points for gravity in general, expressed concern that the 
factor pertaining to persons potentially affected is routinely 
understated by MSHA inspectors, and results in fewer penalty points and 
thus a lower penalty than what should be assessed.
    Other commenters opposed the increase in points for gravity. These 
commenters expressed concern that MSHA essentially eliminated the 
distinction between S&S and non-S&S violations from a penalty 
perspective. These commenters gave the example that a non-S&S violation 
with an unlikely likelihood and a fatal severity would receive 30 
gravity points whereas an S&S violation with a reasonably likely 
likelihood and a lost workdays severity would receive 35 gravity 
points.
    MSHA disagrees with comments stating that proposed increased points 
for gravity are excessively high. Increased points for gravity are 
directed at operators whose mines experience the more serious mine 
safety and health hazards. Increased points, which result in increased 
penalties, should encourage these operators to place greater emphasis 
on immediately correcting the more serious violations

[[Page 13613]]

because they pose the greatest safety and health risk to miners.
    The Agency does not believe that this aspect of the final rule 
results in a blurred distinction between S&S and non-S&S violations. 
MSHA reviewed violations that were assessed in 2005 and projects that 
S&S violations would receive an average penalty of $1,385 under the 
final rule and non-S&S violations would receive an average penalty of 
$207.
    Moreover, MSHA's intent is to place much more emphasis on the 
overall gravity of a violation. To achieve this goal, each of the three 
gravity point tables is revised to increase the points for likelihood, 
severity, and persons potentially affected. In doing so, the Agency 
allocated twice as many points for a permanently disabling injury than 
an injury that resulted only in lost work days. MSHA also doubled the 
number of points for a fatal injury, as compared with a permanently 
disabling injury. This approach to increasing gravity points for 
severity is reasonable and necessary because MSHA believes that, while 
all three components of the gravity determination are important in 
determining risk, the likelihood or probability of an injury occurring 
should carry more weight in the overall penalty determination.
    For likelihood, MSHA made the increase in gravity points between 
levels more pronounced as the likelihood of an injury increased. An 
unlikely situation has some potential to result in an injury, and a 
reasonably likely situation has a higher potential for an injury to 
occur. MSHA's position is that those violations with any degree of 
likelihood should receive more points and, as the likelihood increases, 
the number of associated points should increase significantly. The 
Agency considers a situation that resulted in a ``highly likely'' or 
``occurred'' likelihood as a worst-case scenario deserving 
significantly higher points.
    Regarding MSHA inspectors' evaluation of the number of persons 
potentially affected, MSHA continues to evaluate inspector citations to 
determine where improvements can be made. The ``number of persons 
potentially affected'' is a topic covered in the gravity section of the 
``Citation and Order Writing Handbook for Coal Mines and Metal and 
Nonmetal Mines'' at http://www.MSHA.gov. The Handbook provides guidance 
to MSHA compliance personnel when issuing or reviewing citations and 
orders, and is intended to achieve consistent enforcement. MSHA has 
identified the ``number of persons potentially affected'' as an area 
that needs to be emphasized in both new and refresher inspector 
training. In an effort to improve inspector performance and consistency 
in this area, the Agency has undertaken a number of initiatives. It is 
emphasizing this area in inspector training, placing greater emphasis 
on this issue in staff meetings at all levels--headquarters and field, 
and improving enforcement oversight.
    Final Sec.  100.3(e) adopts the language in the proposed rule.
    Tables II-11, II-12, and II-13 show the existing and final penalty 
points for gravity.

[[Page 13614]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.010


[[Page 13615]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.011

(f) Demonstrated Good Faith of the Operator in Abating the Violation
    Final Sec.  100.3(f), like the proposal, decreases the amount of 
the reduction of the penalty, where the operator abates the violation 
within the time set by the inspector, from 30% under the existing rule 
to 10% under this final rule. In addition, the final rule, like the 
proposal, eliminates the existing provision which adds 10 points where 
an operator does not abate the violation within the specified time 
period.
    As stated throughout this rulemaking, MSHA takes the demonstrated 
good faith of the operator in abating the violation into consideration 
because it is one of the statutory criteria to be used in determining 
civil penalties under the Mine Act. Several commenters supported the 
proposed decrease in the ``good faith'' reduction from 30% to 10%, but 
others opposed the decrease, stating that MSHA should retain the 
existing 30% reduction because any smaller amount would be a 
disincentive for operators to promptly abate violations.
    MSHA does not anticipate that changing the good faith reduction 
from 30% to 10% would adversely affect miner health and safety or the 
prompt abatement of violations. Based on 2005 assessed violation data, 
mine operators realized a $5.7 million decrease in proposed civil 
penalty assessments due to the 30% good faith reduction. MSHA projects 
that the 10% good faith reduction in the final rule will result in a 
$4.7 million decrease in proposed penalty assessments, although the 
Agency acknowledges that total penalties increase significantly under 
the final rule. MSHA believes that the $4.7 million decrease under the 
final rule provides an incentive equivalent to that in the existing 
rule for mine operators to abate violations in a timely manner.
    The strongest incentive for abatement under the final rule is a 
withdrawal order issued under section 104(b) of the Mine Act. The Mine 
Act requires that the inspector set a ``reasonable time'' for abatement 
for all violations, regardless of severity. The inspector sets the 
abatement time based on the nature of the hazard and the corrective 
actions needed. Should the mine operator fail to abate the hazard 
within the prescribed time, the inspector will issue a withdrawal order 
closing the affected

[[Page 13616]]

area of the mine. In 2006, MSHA used this regulatory tool and issued 
1,200 withdrawal orders that resulted in closure of the area of the 
mine affected by the violation.
    All mine operators should take their responsibilities for mine 
safety and health seriously and promptly abate all violations of the 
Mine Act and MSHA's safety and health standards and regulations. The 
Agency also takes seriously its responsibility to administer the civil 
penalty provisions in the Mine Act in accordance with the statutory 
criteria. Congress intended that MSHA provide some consideration to 
mine operators who, when issued a citation for a violation of a safety 
and health standard, correct that violation within the time set by the 
inspector. In recognition of the statutory intent, the final rule 
includes an appropriate ``good faith'' reduction. MSHA continues to 
believe that operators should take prompt corrective action, regardless 
of the amount of the monetary incentive, in order to avoid the 
prolonged existence of a violative or dangerous condition in the mine. 
In the event, however, that an operator does not abate a violation 
within the time set by the inspector, MSHA believes that the Mine Act's 
provisions for withdrawal orders and daily penalties, discussed below, 
provide an adequate compliance incentive. For these reasons, and in 
response to comments, the final rule retains the 10% ``good faith'' 
reduction, as proposed.
    Some commenters opposed eliminating the 10 additional points under 
the existing rule where an operator does not abate the violation within 
the time specified, while others supported the proposed elimination of 
10 additional points. In retaining this aspect of the proposal, the 
Agency intends that the Mine Act's following two sanctions for an 
operator's failure to correct violations within the time set by the 
inspector be applied: (1) issuance of a withdrawal order under Sec.  
104(b) of the Mine Act,; and (2) application of the daily penalty under 
Sec.  110(b) of the Act. MSHA believes that these two sanctions are 
adequate tools for the Agency to use to address the circumstances in 
which an operator does not abate the violation within the time 
specified by the MSHA inspector.
    Final Sec.  100.3(f) adopts the language in the proposed rule.
(g) Penalty Conversion Table
    Final Sec.  100.3(g), like the proposal, provides the penalty 
conversion table used to convert total penalty points to a dollar 
amount. The final rule, like the proposal, retains the statutory 
maximum penalty of $60,000. In addition, it establishes a new minimum 
penalty of $112, up from $72 in the existing rule.
    The proposed rule converted points to dollars as follows: for 60 
points or fewer, the minimum dollar amount was $112. Each additional 
point above 60 up to 133 caused the dollar value to increase by a fixed 
8.33%. The dollar value assigned for 133 points was $38,387. At 133 
points, the dollar value increased by approximately $3,070 for each 
additional penalty point. The maximum number of points was 140 and the 
maximum dollar value was $60,000.
    MSHA received some comments stating that the $112 minimum penalty 
was too low. The final rule retains the $112 minimum penalty, which is 
a 56% increase from the minimum penalty under the existing rule, and 
which MSHA believes represents a reasonable adjustment upward from the 
$60 minimum penalty under the existing penalty regulations.
    Several commenters stated that penalties under the proposed rule 
could result in lower penalties than under the existing regulations. 
One commenter provided the example that under the existing regulations 
89 points are required before MSHA imposes a fine of more than $25,000, 
while under the proposed regulations, 128 points would be required 
before MSHA would impose a fine of more than $25,000. As stated earlier 
in this preamble, to accurately determine a penalty under the proposed 
rule one cannot do a side-by-side comparison of existing to proposed 
penalties without also considering how the point tables have changed.
    Although MSHA projects that the vast majority of violations will 
receive an increase in penalties under this final rule, MSHA's analysis 
of violations that were assessed in 2005 shows that a small percentage 
of violations--5%, or 5,858 of the 116,673 total violations--would 
receive a lower penalty under the final rule than under the existing 
regulations. Of the violations that would receive a lower penalty, 
approximately 3,485 result from use of the 15-month period and the 10-
violation threshold for assigning penalty points under violation 
history. MSHA believes that the penalty reductions in these cases are 
appropriate in that they generally reflect an improvement in the most 
recent violation history or a small number of safety and health 
hazards.
    The remaining 2%, approximately 2,400 violations, involve a 
reduction in the penalty for other reasons. Of these, 945 are 
violations which were assessed under the special assessment provision 
of the existing rule, but would receive a regular assessment under the 
final rule. As mentioned, however, in any circumstance in which MSHA's 
regular assessment may result in anomalies or inequitable results, MSHA 
may choose to apply the special assessment provision of this final rule 
to assure that the penalty is appropriate. Another 671 are violations 
which, under the final rule, would not receive the 10-point penalty for 
failure to abate under the existing rule. As stated previously, MSHA 
believes that the Mine Act's two sanctions for an operator's failure to 
correct violations within the time set by the inspector--the issuance 
of a withdrawal order under Sec.  104(b) of the Mine Act and the daily 
penalty under Sec.  110(b) of the Act--are adequate tools for the 
Agency to use to address the circumstances in which an operator does 
not abate the violation within the time specified by the MSHA 
inspector. The final 757 violations involve a lowering of the penalty 
by a negligible amount.
    Final Sec.  100.3(g) adopts the language in the proposed rule.

[[Page 13617]]

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[[Page 13618]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.013


[[Page 13619]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.014


[[Page 13620]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.015

(h) Effect on Operator's Ability To Remain in Business
    Final Sec.  100.3(h), like the proposal, provides that MSHA 
presumes that the operator's ability to continue in business will not 
be affected by payment of a civil penalty. In addition, like the 
proposal, it provides that MSHA may adjust the penalty if the operator 
submits information to MSHA concerning the operation's financial status 
which shows that payment of the penalty will adversely affect the 
operator's ability to continue in business.
    In the proposal, MSHA made several non-substantive editorial 
changes for clarity.
    Several commenters expressed concern that the proposed increase in 
penalties would put small operations out of business. Many of these 
commenters requested a variance from the penalty regulations. In 
addition, one commenter stated that MSHA should not take an operator's 
ability to continue in business into consideration when determining a 
penalty. This commenter expressed concern that an operator that cannot 
afford to pay its penalties should not operate at all.
    MSHA takes an operator's ability to continue in business into 
consideration because it is one of the statutory criteria to be used in 
determining civil penalties under the Mine Act. Under this final rule, 
as in the existing rule, MSHA may adjust the penalty if the operator 
demonstrates that the amount of the penalty will adversely affect the 
operator's ability to continue in business. A variance cannot be 
granted, however, because under the Mine Act, MSHA may modify only the 
application of a safety standard.
    Final Sec.  100.3(h) adopts the language in the proposed rule.
Unwarrantable Failure (Sec.  100.4)
    Final Sec.  100.4, like the proposal, deletes the single penalty 
assessment provision in existing Sec.  100.4. The existing single 
penalty assessment provided for a $60 penalty for certain non-S&S 
violations, i.e., those violations that were not reasonably likely to 
result in reasonably serious injury or illness, that were abated within 
the time set by the inspector, and that did not involve an operator 
with an excessive history of violations.
    MSHA received numerous comments on the proposed deletion of the 
single penalty assessment provision. Some commenters supported deleting 
the single penalty assessment because they stated that these violations 
were often perceived as insignificant and accepted as the cost of doing 
business. Some of these commenters provided examples of operators 
receiving $60 single penalties for violations pertaining to 
accumulations of combustible material, roof control problems, and 
ventilation problems, where it was cheaper to pay the $60 penalty than 
to correct the underlying violative condition.
    Other commenters opposed deleting the single penalty assessment. 
Those commenters stated that the single penalty is generally reserved 
for non-S&S violations that have little or no safety consequences and, 
therefore, these violations should receive minimal penalties. Most of 
the commenters opposed to deleting the single penalty assessment 
expressed concern that operators would be required to spend 
disproportionate amounts of time and resources on violations having 
minimal impact on safety and health. In addition, some commenters 
expressed concern that deleting the single penalty assessment will 
result in increased contests and litigation. After careful review of 
all comments, an examination of Agency data, and based upon Agency 
experience, MSHA has decided that the single penalty assessment should 
not be included in the final rule.
    As mentioned earlier, the agency has structured a civil penalty 
regulation which focuses on reducing all mine safety and health 
hazards--both non-S&S and S&S. MSHA believes that every violation has 
the potential to contribute to hazardous or unhealthful conditions and 
should be individually assessed a civil penalty that is commensurate 
with the severity of the violation. Also, MSHA's experience and data 
reveal that often non-S&S violations, if left uncorrected, will lead to 
more hazardous situations. For this reason, MSHA is deleting the single 
penalty assessment provision in an effort to prompt the mining 
community to pay attention to, and promptly abate, all violations.

[[Page 13621]]

    Non-S&S violations are not always trivial violations deserving 
nominal penalties. Accurate recordkeeping, good housekeeping, and 
meaningful training are essential elements of an effective safety and 
health program in the workplace. For example, an operator's failure to 
properly train a miner in first aid is often classified as a non-S&S 
violation; however, such a violation sometimes can result in fatal 
consequences.
    Moreover, a violation that is not reasonably likely to result in a 
reasonably serious injury or illness may eventually result in a serious 
injury or illness if it is not corrected. By deleting the single 
penalty assessment provision, the Agency believes that mine operators 
will focus more attention on identifying and correcting the root causes 
of mine safety and health hazards. These non-S&S violations should not 
be viewed as an insignificant part of the cost of doing business. 
Rather, they should be evaluated under the regular assessment provision 
so that the operator's size, history, negligence, and the gravity of 
the violation can be taken into consideration in determining the amount 
of the penalty assessment. Operators with a low history of violations, 
violations that truly involve minor or technical violations, that pose 
less serious threats to health and safety, that involve low or no 
negligence, and that are abated within the time set by the inspector, 
likely will receive a total of 60 points or fewer and a penalty of only 
$100 (including application of the ``good faith'' reduction) under the 
regular assessment provision of this final rule.
    Some commenters requested that MSHA include empirical data and 
projections pertaining to deleting the single penalty assessment 
provision. MSHA, using violations that were assessed in 2005, converted 
penalties assessed under the single penalty provision of the existing 
rule to penalties under the regular assessment provision of this final 
rule. MSHA found that the $60 penalties assessed under the single 
penalty provision would range from $100 (assuming application of the 
``good faith'' reduction) to $14,343 for metal and nonmetal mines and 
from $112 to $21,442 for coal mines. The Agency is providing this 
information for illustrative purposes only. The highest ranges of 
penalties occurred for one coal violation and for one metal/nonmetal 
violation and are anomalies. MSHA does not expect non-S&S violations to 
result in penalties of this level under the final rule; however, in the 
event that a regular assessment produces an inappropriate result, the 
penalty would be processed under the special assessment provision. 
Under the final rule, MSHA estimates the average non-S&S penalty would 
be $192.
    In addition, under the final rule, MSHA projects that 44% of 
violations (32% for coal and 59% for metal and nonmetal mines) would 
receive the minimum penalty (including application of the ``good 
faith'' reduction). This compares with 64% of violations (58% for coal 
and 72% for metal and nonmetal mines) that received the single penalty 
under the existing rule.
    Based on the Agency's evaluation of the violations that were 
assessed in 2005 and the Agency's experience gained under the existing 
single penalty provision, MSHA believes that deleting the single 
penalty assessment will encourage compliance with the Mine Act and 
MSHA's safety and health standards and regulations and prompt abatement 
of violations.
    For the foregoing reasons, the single penalty assessment provision 
is deleted from this final rule.
    Final Sec.  100.4 is a new provision which replaces existing Sec.  
100.4 pertaining to the single penalty assessment. Final Sec.  100.4, 
like the proposal, implements Section 8(a)(1)(B) of the MINER Act 
related to minimum unwarrantable failure penalties. It establishes a 
minimum penalty of $2,000 for any citation or order issued under 
section 104(d)(1) of the Mine Act, and establishes a minimum penalty of 
$4,000 for any order issued under section 104(d)(2) of the Mine Act.
    Commenters generally were in agreement with the proposed provision. 
Some commenters, however, expressed concern that the statutory minimum 
penalties of $2,000 and $4,000 would become default penalties. They 
stated that these penalties should either be the statutory minimum 
amount or the amount assessed under the regular assessment formula, 
whichever is greater. MSHA agrees. Under the final rule, penalties for 
unwarrantable failure violations processed through the regular 
assessment provision will receive at least the minimum amount as 
specified in the MINER Act. Unwarrantable failure violations processed 
as regular assessments which generate a penalty greater than the 
statutory minimum will receive that penalty. As appropriate, 
unwarrantable failure violations also may continue to be processed 
under the special assessment provision.
    Final Sec.  100.4 adopts the language of the proposed rule.
Determination of Penalty; Special Assessment (Sec.  100.5)
    Final Sec.  100.5, like the proposed rule, is derived from existing 
Sec.  100.5, and, like the proposal, provides for a special assessment 
for those violations which MSHA believes should not be processed under 
the regular assessment provision. It also removes the second sentence 
in existing Sec.  100.5(a) which states that:

    Although an effective penalty can generally be derived by using 
the regular assessment formula and the single assessment provision, 
some types of violations may be of such a nature or seriousness that 
it is not possible to determine an appropriate penalty under these 
provisions.

In addition, this provision, like the proposal, removes the existing 
list of eight categories of violations that MSHA reviews for possible 
special assessment.

    MSHA received numerous comments on the Agency's proposal to delete 
the eight categories of violations which are reviewed for special 
assessment in the existing rule. Some commenters supported processing 
most violations under the regular assessment provision, stating that 
the existing special assessment process sometimes results in extended 
periods between the issuance of a citation or order and the issuance of 
the penalty. These commenters indicated that MSHA has sometimes taken 
over one year to issue a penalty under the special assessment 
provision, and stated that penalties would be processed in a timelier 
manner under the proposal. Other commenters supported the proposal, 
stating that it would remove arbitrary penalties from being issued 
under the special assessment provision.
    Some commenters opposed the proposal. They expressed concern that 
processing violations that fall in the eight categories in the existing 
rule as regular assessments would result in lower penalties. Some of 
these commenters stated that the final rule should levy heavy penalties 
on blatant violations and operators who flout the law, and that 
eliminating the eight categories of violations that receive 
consideration for special assessments under the existing rule will 
create confusion for companies by eliminating certainty about when they 
will be subject to special assessments. Other commenters who opposed 
the proposal expressed concern that MSHA would exercise unfettered 
discretion in assessing any violation under the special assessment 
provision.
    MSHA agrees with the commenters who stated that processing most 
violations under the regular assessment provision will enhance the 
consistency

[[Page 13622]]

and timeliness of the assessment process. One of MSHA's goals for this 
rulemaking is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the civil 
penalty process. As stated in the preamble to the proposed rule, the 
existing special assessment provision has resulted in a time-consuming 
and resource-intensive process. For violations specially assessed in 
2005, it took an average of 168 days from the date a violation was 
terminated to the date the assessment was mailed. Under the regular 
assessment, such violations generally are assessed within 70 days of 
the termination date. MSHA strongly believes that penalties issued 
closer to the issuance of the citation or order will have a more 
meaningful, behavior-changing effect on mine operators.
    In addition, because MSHA is retaining its discretion to determine 
which types of violations would be reviewed for special assessment, 
removal of the eight categories of violations will not limit the 
Agency's authority to waive the regular assessment if the Agency 
determines that a special assessment is appropriate for any type of 
violation. Indeed, as stated in the preamble to the proposed rule, MSHA 
never intended the existing eight categories to be an exhaustive list 
of the types of violations that could be assessed under the special 
assessment provision. This final rule clarifies the Agency's intent. 
Further, as stated throughout this rulemaking, by removing the specific 
list of violations, MSHA will be able to focus its enforcement 
resources on more field enforcement activities, as opposed to 
administrative review activities.
    MSHA projects that the regular assessment provision will provide an 
appropriate penalty for most violations. By way of illustration, using 
data for violations that were assessed in 2005, MSHA compared the 
penalty for 2,698 of the 3,189 violations assessed under the special 
assessment provision to the penalty that would have been assessed under 
the regular assessment provision of this final rule. The Agency 
excluded violations that involved a fatality and those issued to agents 
of the mine operator from this comparison because those violations 
would continue to be processed as special assessments under the final 
rule. MSHA found that the penalty for these 2,698 violations would have 
increased by approximately 98% under the regular assessment provision 
of this final rule. Nevertheless, MSHA expects that there will be 
circumstances in which the regular assessment provision of this final 
rule will not provide an appropriate penalty for particular violations. 
The Agency found, in reviewing violations that were assessed in 2005, 
approximately 35% of all violations issued under the special assessment 
provision of the existing rule would have received a lower penalty 
under the regular assessment provision of this final rule. MSHA intends 
to apply the special assessment provision of this final rule for those 
violations where the regular assessment does not provide an appropriate 
penalty. Consistent with a commenter's request, MSHA intends to review 
the special assessment provision in the future to determine whether it 
is achieving its purpose or whether changes are needed. MSHA monitors, 
on a monthly basis, the number of assessments under the existing 
special assessment provision. MSHA intends to continue this monitoring 
and to analyze the monitoring results. In addition, as stated 
previously, MSHA intends to continue to process violations involving a 
fatality and those issued to agents of the mine operator as special 
assessments. MSHA will also process flagrant violations, violations for 
failure to timely notify MSHA, and timely abate violations, and smoking 
violations, as listed under sections 100.5(c) through (f) as special 
assessments.
    Final Sec.  100.5(a) adopts the language of the proposed rule.
    Final Sec.  100.5(b), like the proposal, contains non-substantive 
changes for clarity. It removes the reference to existing Sec.  
100.4(b) because the single penalty provision is deleted in this final 
rule. MSHA received no comments on this proposal and made no changes to 
it. Therefore, final Sec.  100.5(b) adopts the language of the proposed 
rule.
    Final Sec.  100.5(c), like the proposal, remains unchanged from 
existing Sec.  100.5(c). It provides that any operator who fails to 
correct a violation for which a citation has been issued under section 
104(a) of the Mine Act within the period permitted for its correction 
may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $6,500 for each day 
during which such failure or violation continues.
    One commenter stated that MSHA should apply the maximum daily 
penalty of $6,500 while abatement work is being performed and it should 
continue to be applied every day until all such work is completed. MSHA 
will continue to enforce the daily penalty in accordance with the Mine 
Act, which provides for a ``reasonable time'' for abatement. The final 
rule adopts the language used in the proposal.
    Final Sec.  100.5(d), like the proposed rule, remains unchanged 
from existing Sec.  100.5(d). This provision pertains to penalties for 
miners who violate standards related to smoking and smoking materials. 
MSHA received a few comments on this proposal. They suggested that MSHA 
increase the maximum penalty that could be assessed against a miner for 
a smoking violation. One commenter suggested an increase from $275 to 
$500 and another commenter suggested an increase to $220,000, similar 
to the maximum penalty for flagrant violations. The maximum penalty for 
miners who violate standards related to smoking or smoking materials, 
however, is established by statute, and can be adjusted only for 
inflation unless specifically adjusted by Congress. Therefore, the 
final rule retains the language of existing paragraph (d) as proposed.
    Final Sec.  100.5(e), like the proposal, implements the provision 
of the MINER Act pertaining to penalties for flagrant violations. Under 
the MINER Act, violations that are deemed to be flagrant may be 
assessed a civil penalty of not more than $220,000. The proposal, which 
adopted the definition in the MINER Act, defined a ``flagrant'' 
violation as a reckless or repeated failure to make reasonable efforts 
to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory health or safety standard 
that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have 
been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury.
    Several commenters stated that the proposed language with respect 
to flagrant violations was too vague. They suggested that flagrant 
violations be limited to repeated violations of the same standard that 
were issued under Section 104(d) of the Mine Act, characterized as 
involving reckless disregard. They further suggested that flagrant 
violations be limited to violations that have been finally adjudicated. 
MSHA considered these suggestions in developing this final rule and has 
determined that it would be most beneficial to miner's safety and 
health to retain the proposed language. In addition, the proposed 
language mirrors the MINER Act. Violations that are deemed to be 
flagrant would be subject to a penalty of up to $220,000 under the 
special assessment provision of this final rule.
    Several commenters expressed concern that proposed Sec.  100.5(e) 
wrongly applied the penalty for flagrant violations to violations under 
section 110(a) of the Mine Act. They stated that Congress adopted 
penalties for flagrant violations by amending section 110(b) of the 
Mine Act, which pertains to penalties assessed to operators who have 
failed to correct a violation. They asserted that Congress intended the

[[Page 13623]]

penalty for flagrant violations to apply only to failures to correct a 
violation under section 110(b).
    Section 1301 of the Pension Protection Act contains technical 
amendments to the MINER Act. Public Law No. 109-280 (Aug. 17, 2006). 
The provision for criminal penalties was moved from section 110(a)(2) 
of the Mine Act and is now the new section 110(d). Section 110(b) of 
the Mine Act now has two sub-subsections. Section 110(b)(1) provides 
for assessment of a daily civil penalty for violations that have not 
been corrected. Section 110(b)(2) provides for assessment of a civil 
penalty of not more than $220,000 for violations that are deemed to be 
flagrant.
    For a number of reasons, MSHA believes that a flagrant violation 
under section 110(b)(2) is not limited to a violation that an operator 
has failed to correct under section 110(b)(1). First, section 110(b)(1) 
specifically applies to failure to correct a ``violation for which a 
citation has been issued.'' In contrast, section 110(b)(2) applies to 
failure to eliminate a ``known violation,'' and does not specify that a 
``known violation'' must be a violation which has been cited.
    Second, the Senate Report accompanying the MINER Act discusses 
flagrant violations without any reference to section 110(b) and without 
any indication that a flagrant violation must be a violation which has 
been cited. S. Rep. No. 109-365 (Dec. 6, 2006).
    Third, section 110(b)(2) applies to failure to eliminate violations 
``under this section'' (emphasis added) that are deemed to be flagrant. 
Section 110(b)(2) cannot be read as applying only to violations under 
section 110(b) because section 110(b) is a subsection, not a section. 
Instead, Section 110(b)(2) must be read as applying to violations under 
the section in which it appears--i.e., section 110--including section 
110(a).
    Fourth, section 110(b)(2) is, by virtue of its designation as a 
sub-subsection separate and distinct from section 110(b)(1), a 
provision distinct and independent from section 110(b)(1). That 
designation suggests that section 110(b)(2) is not limited to 
violations encompassed by section 110(b)(1).
    Finally, it would be illogical to limit flagrant violations to 
violations which have been cited. Plainly, failure to eliminate a 
violation which is known to the operator but which has not been cited 
by MSHA--perhaps because MSHA has not conducted an inspection since the 
violation arose--can be just as dangerous, and just as deserving of an 
enhanced penalty, as a violation which is known to the operator and 
which has been cited.
    Accordingly, the proposal has been modified. Final Sec.  100.5(e) 
includes a reference to section 110(b)(2) of the Mine Act.
    Final Sec.  100.5(f), like the proposal, implements the penalty 
provisions of the MINER Act pertaining to prompt incident notification. 
Under the MINER Act, an operator who fails to provide timely 
notification to the Secretary, in the event of a death, or an injury or 
entrapment with reasonable potential to cause death, under section 
103(j) (relating to the 15-minute requirement) shall be assessed a 
civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $60,000.
    One commenter expressed concern that proposed Sec.  100.5(f) would 
be applied to all violations under part 50.10, stating that for 
example, violations for failure to report a fire or hoist problems 
would be included. Final Sec.  100.5(f), like the proposed rule, 
implements the penalty provisions of the MINER Act pertaining to prompt 
incident notification. In this regard, final Sec.  100.5(f) is 
applicable only to the following events: the failure to notify MSHA of 
a death, or an injury or entrapment which has a reasonable potential to 
cause death.
    Several commenters stated that this proposed provision is 
counterproductive and could inhibit first responders from time-critical 
stabilization of a victim. They suggested adding language, for example, 
that in a case in which delay has the potential to cause additional 
injuries, or the victim of an accident requires first aid, the 15 
minutes shall begin upon stabilization of the site and the victim. This 
same issue was raised during the rulemaking concerning MSHA's Emergency 
Mine Evacuation Final Rule published on December 8, 2006. In the 
preamble to that rule, MSHA addressed the issue in the following 
manner:

    If a situation were to arise involving extenuating 
circumstances, such as an operator having to choose between saving 
someone's life and notifying MSHA, enforcement discretion would take 
those circumstances into account. MSHA does not expect that an 
operator who has to make a decision between rendering life-saving 
assistance and calling MSHA would be penalized for providing that 
assistance.

71 FR 71430 (Dec. 8, 2006). MSHA supports the foregoing conclusion.

    No changes were made to proposed Sec.  100.5(f) and the final rule 
adopts the proposed language.
Procedures for Review of Citations and Orders; Procedures for 
Assessment of Civil Penalties and Conferences (Sec.  100.6)
    Final Sec.  100.6, like the proposed rule, contains requirements 
and administrative procedures for review of citations and orders.
    Final Sec.  100.6(a), like the proposal, contains the provision in 
existing 100.6(a) that all parties, i.e., the operator and miners or 
their representatives, shall have the opportunity to review each 
citation and order with MSHA. In addition, it incorporates existing 
Sec.  100.6(c), which provides that the decision to grant a request for 
a conference is within MSHA's discretion. MSHA received no comments on 
the proposed reorganization of Sec.  100.6(a). Therefore, the final 
rule adopts the language in the proposal.
    Final Sec.  100.6(b), like the proposal, is derived from existing 
Sec.  100.6(b). MSHA proposed modifying the existing provision by 
reducing the period, from 10 days to five days, within which an 
operator could submit additional information or request a safety and 
health conference with the District Manager or designee.
    In addition, at the last two public hearings during this 
rulemaking, the Agency stated in its opening statement that it intended 
to include a requirement that a request for a safety and health 
conference be in writing and include a brief statement as to why each 
citation or order should be conferenced. The Agency requested comment 
on this issue. To allow all parties an opportunity to comment on this 
issue, MSHA reopened the comment period to this rulemaking and 
specifically requested comments as to whether a request for a safety 
and health conference should be in writing and whether such a request 
should include a brief statement of the reason why each citation or 
order should be conferenced.
    A few commenters supported the proposed reduction of the period 
within which an operator could submit additional information or request 
a safety and health conference. One commenter stated that the proposal 
would result in a more effective civil penalty system because penalties 
would be assessed closer in time to the issuance of the citation.
    Almost all commenters, however, opposed the proposed reduction in 
the time period for requesting a safety and health conference. They 
stated that they would not have sufficient time to evaluate a citation 
or order and determine the appropriate course of action to take. In 
addition, they stated

[[Page 13624]]

that delays in scheduling conferences often cause delays in the 
issuance of penalties. Several commenters noted that conferences 
sometimes are not held until several months after a request has been 
made because MSHA's Conference and Litigation Representatives (CLRs) 
have a backlog of conferences.
    After receiving comments, MSHA decided not to reduce the 10-day 
period within which a party may submit additional information or 
request a safety and health conference. In making this decision, the 
Agency believes that the safety and health of miners is improved when, 
after an inspection, operators and miners or their representatives are 
afforded an ample opportunity to discuss safety and health issues with 
the MSHA District Manager or designee.
    MSHA received one comment in support of and several comments 
opposed to the proposed requirement that a request for a safety and 
health conference be in writing and include a brief statement of the 
reason why each citation or order should be conferenced. Commenters 
opposed to the proposal stated that a requirement that conference 
requests be in writing would cause extreme difficulties for the 
operator and ultimately result in discouraging the conference process. 
Specifically, these commenters stated that the proposed requirement 
places an unnecessary burden on operators who have limited 
administrative resources to thoroughly investigate citations and orders 
and gather documentation within a limited amount of time pertaining to 
each citation and order.
    One commenter generally agreed with the proposal that the request 
for a safety and health conference be in writing and include a brief 
statement as to why each citation or order should be conferenced, but 
stated that the requirement should not be mandatory. Several commenters 
stated that some MSHA districts currently require safety and health 
conference requests to be in writing. One commenter mistakenly believed 
that the existing regulations require that safety and health conference 
requests be in writing.
    After reviewing all comments, MSHA has decided to include in the 
final rule the proposed requirement that the request for a safety and 
health conference be in writing and include a brief statement as to why 
each citation should be conferenced. In making this decision, MSHA 
anticipates that this provision will assist parties requesting a 
conference to focus on the issues to be discussed at the conference. It 
is not MSHA's intent under this proposal to require operators and/or 
miners' representatives to provide a large amount of documentation. 
Rather, it is MSHA's intent that operators and/or miners' 
representatives provide a concise statement concerning the reason the 
requesting parties wish to discuss each violation. MSHA notes that the 
Agency does not intend to limit discussion at the safety and health 
conference to the specific points raised in the written statement.
    MSHA projects that this proposed provision will lead to a more 
meaningful and effective conference for all parties. Also, it will help 
expedite the conference process by providing the District Manager with 
necessary information prior to conducting the conference, including 
information that may assist the District Manager in deciding whether to 
grant a conference. Therefore, the final rule includes the requirement 
that a request for a safety and health conference be in writing and 
include a brief statement as to why each citation should be 
conferenced.
    Final 100.6(c), like the proposal, is derived from and remains 
unchanged from existing Sec.  100.6(d). MSHA received no comments on 
this proposal.
    Final 100.6(d), like the proposal, is derived from existing 
Sec. Sec.  100.6(e), (f), and (g). The final rule remains substantively 
unchanged from the proposed rule. MSHA received no comments on the 
proposal.
Notice of Proposed Penalty; Notice of Contest (Sec.  100.7)
    Final Sec.  100.7, like the proposal, is derived from existing 
100.7, and provides for procedures applicable to a notice of proposed 
penalty and notice of penalty contest. Final paragraph (a) sets out the 
circumstances under which a notice of proposed penalty will be served 
on the parties, and final paragraph (b) sets out the procedures for 
contesting a notice of proposed penalty, and final order of the 
Commission.
    The final rule, like the proposal, includes editorial changes for 
clarity, but remains substantively unchanged from the existing 
provision. Proposed paragraph (a) stated that a notice of proposed 
penalty will be issued and served by certified mail. MSHA is 
interpreting ``certified mail'' to include delivery methods such as 
Federal Express that offer proof of delivery. The existing provision is 
therefore amended to include the equivalent of certified mail as a 
means of service of the notice of proposed penalty.
    Proposed Sec.  100.7(b) deleted from the regulatory text the 
following: (1) The reference to a return mailing card that is used to 
request a hearing before the Commission, (2) the reference to providing 
instructions for returning the card to MSHA, and (3) the provision that 
MSHA will immediately advise the Commission of the contest and also 
advise the Office of the Solicitor of the contest. MSHA proposed these 
deletions because the Agency is no longer using a return mailing card. 
Instead, MSHA currently provides a statement that lists violations 
being assessed, instructions for paying or contesting assessments, and 
MSHA contact information to facilitate an operator's request for a 
hearing. MSHA intends to continue this practice. In addition, MSHA 
intends to continue to advise the Office of the Solicitor and the 
Commission of the notices of penalty contest. MSHA has determined that 
this manner of operator notification of contested assessments does not 
constitute an Information collection activity by MSHA.
    Several commenters stated that MSHA should include in this rule a 
provision to force operators to pay assessed penalties. They expressed 
concern that uncollected fines send a message to all operators that 
MSHA is not serious about Mine Act enforcement. One commenter stated 
that it is within the Secretary's authority to pursue such operators 
aggressively, that MSHA should do so, and that if MSHA believes that it 
has insufficient authority to do this, MSHA should submit legislative 
proposals to strengthen its ability to enforce the law.
    MSHA vigorously collects penalties and takes its collection 
activities seriously. In fact, for the 10-year period from 1997 through 
2006, MSHA issued over $239 million in civil penalties and has 
collected nearly $175 million of that. In addition, MSHA notes that 
each agency that collects civil monetary penalties must have a policy 
to send delinquency letters to employers who have not made payments on 
the assessed penalties. According to the Debt Collection Improvement 
Act of 1996, once the debt has been delinquent for 180 days, the debt 
should be sent to the U.S. Department of Treasury for collection. MSHA 
has the authority to refer delinquent civil penalty debt to Treasury 
and, on a weekly basis, refers unpaid debt to Treasury. Furthermore, 
MSHA has explored innovative ways to legally force operators to pay 
penalties and to deal aggressively with those who do not. Further 
suggestions related to collection activities, however, are beyond the 
scope of this rulemaking.
    No changes were made to proposed Sec.  100.7 and the final rule 
adopts the proposed language.

[[Page 13625]]

Service (Sec.  100.8)
    Final Sec.  100.8, like the proposal, is substantively unchanged 
from the existing rule. It provides that service of proposed civil 
penalties will be made at the mailing address of record for an operator 
and miners' representative, that penalty assessments may be mailed to a 
different address if MSHA is notified in writing of the new address, 
and that operators who fail to file a notification of legal identity 
under 30 CFR part 41 will be served at their last known business 
address. Like the proposed rule, specific references to part 40 
(Representative of Miners) and part 41 (Notification of Legal Identity) 
have been changed from existing Sec.  100.8 to indicate that they are 
parts contained in Chapter I of Title 30 CFR. MSHA received no comments 
on this proposal.
    No changes were made to proposed Sec.  100.8 and the final rule 
adopts the proposed language.

III. Executive Order 12866

    Executive Order 12866 as amended by Executive Order 13258 (Amending 
Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review) requires that 
regulatory agencies assess both the costs and benefits of regulations. 
To comply with Executive Order 12866, MSHA has prepared a Regulatory 
Economic Analysis (REA) for the final rule. The REA contains supporting 
data and explanation for the summary materials presented in sections 
III-VI of this preamble, including the covered mining industry, costs 
and benefits, feasibility, small business impact, and paperwork. The 
REA is located on MSHA's Web site at http://www.msha.gov/regsinfo.htm. 
A copy of the REA can be obtained from MSHA's Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances.
    Executive Order 12866 classifies a rule as a significant regulatory 
action requiring review by the Office of Management and Budget if it 
meets any one of a number of specified conditions, including: Having an 
annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, creating a 
serious inconsistency or interfering with an action of another agency, 
materially altering the budgetary impact of entitlements or the rights 
of entitlement recipients, or raising novel legal or policy issues. 
MSHA has determined that, based on the REA, the final rule would not 
have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the economy and, 
therefore, would not be an economically significant regulatory action 
under Section 3, paragraph (f) of Executive Order 12866. MSHA, however, 
has concluded that the final rule is otherwise significant under 
Executive Order 12866 because it raises novel legal or policy issues.

A. Population at Risk

    Based on 2005 data, the final rule will apply to the entire mining 
industry, covering all 14,666 mine operators and 6,585 independent 
contractors in the United States, as well as the 261,449 miners and 
83,267 contract workers they employ.

B. Costs

    In order to derive and explain the cost impact of the final rule on 
the mining industry, MSHA has divided its analysis into three sections: 
(1) The baseline--the total number and monetary amount of civil penalty 
assessments proposed by MSHA in 2005; (2) the impact of the final rule 
on civil penalty assessments under the assumption that mine operators 
and independent contractors take no actions, in response to increased 
proposed penalty assessments, to improve compliance with MSHA standards 
and regulations; and (3) the impact of the final rule on the number and 
amount of civil penalty assessments taking into account the anticipated 
response of mine operators and independent contractors to increase 
compliance with MSHA standards and regulations and thereby reduce the 
number of civil penalty assessments they otherwise would receive. There 
is an additional cost in the final rule associated with a new 
requirement that mine operators request a safety and health conference 
in writing and include a brief statement of the reason why each 
citation or order should be conferenced.
    It is important to note the nature of the increase in civil 
penalties as it impacts the mining industry. For most MSHA rules, the 
estimated impact reflects the cost to the mining industry of achieving 
compliance with the rule. For this final rule, the estimated impact 
consists of two parts: (1) Increased payments for penalties and (2) 
expenses incurred to increase compliance with MSHA standards and 
regulations so as to reduce the number and amount of civil penalties 
otherwise received. This analysis assumes, in the baseline against 
which the impacts of the rulemaking will be compared, a certain amount 
of non-compliance with current MSHA standards and regulations. 
Therefore, compliance efforts made in response to increased penalties 
are a cost shown in the final rule. This analysis reflects additional 
expenditures associated with improved compliance.
1. Baseline
    The first step in estimating the impact of the final rule is to 
establish a baseline: the number and monetary amount of civil penalty 
assessments in the absence of the final rule. For this purpose, MSHA 
chose all violations that were assessed in 2005. Table III-1 shows the 
number of civil penalty assessments issued in 2005, disaggregated by 
employment size for coal and metal and nonmetal (M/NM) operations, and 
independent contractors at coal and metal and nonmetal operations.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The total number of violations for 2005 is the same as was 
presented in the analysis in support of the proposed rule. A few 
dozen independent contractor violations, however, were misclassified 
by employment size in that analysis. These have been corrected in 
MSHA's analysis of the final rule.

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[[Page 13626]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.016

    The employment size categories being used are 1-5 employees, 6-19 
employees, 20-500 employees, and more than 500 employees. These 
categories are relevant for the analysis of impact in Section V of this 
preamble, to determine whether small mines, as defined by the SBA and 
MSHA, will be significantly impacted by the final rule.
    Of the 116,673 civil penalty assessments issued in 2005, 113,484, 
or approximately 97.3%, were single penalty or regular assessments. The 
remaining 3,189, or 2.7%, were special assessments.
    As can be calculated from Table III-1, there were approximately 25% 
more coal violations than metal and nonmetal violations in 2005, even 
though there were more than 3\1/2\ times as many metal and nonmetal 
operators and independent contractors as there were coal operators and 
independent contractors. One reason for the larger number of coal 
violations is that there are approximately three times as many 
underground coal mines as underground metal and nonmetal mines. There 
are a number of circumstances surrounding underground mines which tend 
to result in a greater number of violations. They are required to be 
inspected more often, and conditions are generally more dangerous and 
subject to change. Another reason for more coal violations is that coal 
mines are, on average, larger operations than metal and nonmetal mines, 
and larger mines tend to receive more violations, on average, than 
smaller mines. The average coal mine operator employed approximately 
three times as many miners as the average metal and nonmetal operator 
in 2005.
    The amount used for each 2005 civil penalty assessment in the 
baseline was the penalty proposed by MSHA. Table III-2 shows, by 
employment size, the total baseline dollar amount of civil penalties 
proposed by MSHA in 2005 for coal and metal and nonmetal mining 
operations and for independent contractors at coal and metal and 
nonmetal mines.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.017

    Table III-2 reveals that total civil penalty assessments in 2005 
were substantially larger--more than 50% larger--for coal mines than 
for metal and nonmetal mines. The larger aggregate penalty assessment 
for coal mines is due to the larger number of violations issued to coal 
mines and the increased average penalty per violation. Coal violations 
tend to be more serious, on average, than metal and nonmetal violations 
(e.g., 40% of coal violations are S&S, versus 23% for metal and 
nonmetal violations).
    Of the $24.9 million in civil penalties proposed by MSHA in 2005, 
$16.6 million, or approximately 67%, were from single penalty and 
regular assessments. The remaining $8.2 million were from special 
assessments. Of this amount, approximately $0.3 million were issued to 
agents of mine operators and another $1.5 million were issued for 
violations involving a fatality.
    Table III-3 displays the baseline average dollar amount of a 
proposed civil penalty in 2005 disaggregated by employment size for 
coal and metal and nonmetal mining operations and for independent 
contractors at coal and metal and nonmetal mines. The average penalty 
assessment for a violation in 2005 was $213. For a single penalty 
assessment, the average penalty was $60. For a regular penalty 
assessment, the average penalty was $316. For a special assessment, the 
average penalty was $2,574. For special assessments issued to agents of 
the mine operator, the average assessment was $582; for special 
assessments involving a fatality, the average penalty was $27,181; and 
for all other special assessments, the average penalty was $2,385.

[[Page 13627]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.034

    Table III-3 shows that the average proposed penalty assessment in 
2005 generally tended to increase as mine size increased. The result is 
consistent, particularly for mine operators with 20 or more employees.
    Table III-3 also indicates that the difference in average penalties 
between coal and metal and nonmetal mining operations of a given 
employment size and between independent contractors for a given 
employment size at coal and metal and nonmetal mines is generally 
small.
2. Impact If No Compliance Response to Increased Penalties
    With the baseline established, the next task in the cost analysis 
is to determine the impact of the final rule on civil penalty 
assessments under the assumption that mine operators and independent 
contractors take no actions, in response to increased proposed penalty 
assessments, to increase compliance with MSHA standards and 
regulations. This task is an intermediate step in determining the total 
cost impact of the final rule, as MSHA's assumption in III.B.3 of this 
preamble is that mine operators and independent contractors will change 
their compliance behavior in response to increased penalties.
    Given the assumption of no compliance response by mine operators 
and independent contractors, the number of violations would not change 
in response to the final rule. They would remain the same as presented 
in Table III-1 for the baseline. The type of the violations, however, 
will change under the final rule. In the analysis, all 2005 regular and 
single penalty assessments will be issued as regular assessments under 
the final rule. MSHA assumed that most unwarrantable failure violations 
would be processed as regular assessments, but would receive at least 
the minimum penalty amounts required in the MINER Act. MSHA also 
assumed that violations issued to agents, those involving a fatality 
and processed as a special assessment in 2005, those involving failure 
to promptly notify MSHA, and those determined to be flagrant will be 
processed as special assessments under the final rule. For purposes of 
this analysis, MSHA further assumed that all other 2005 special 
assessments will be processed as regular assessments. Thus, under the 
final rule, MSHA estimates that the number of special assessments will 
decline by 85%, from 3,189 to 491. MSHA anticipates that, under the 
final rule, the regular assessment provision will generally provide an 
appropriate penalty for most violations previously processed as special 
assessments. Equally significant, this will allow MSHA to focus its 
enforcement resources on more field enforcement activities, as opposed 
to administrative review activities.
    Tables III-4 and III-5 show the estimated total dollar amount and 
average dollar amount, respectively, of civil penalties under the final 
rule, assuming no compliance response by mine operators and independent 
contractors.\2\ Table III-6 shows, relative to the baseline, the 
estimated percentage increase of civil penalties (both total and 
average) under the final rule, assuming no compliance response by mine 
operators and independent contractors. All of these tables are 
disaggregated by employment size, coal and metal and nonmetal mining 
operations, and independent contractors at coal and metal and nonmetal 
mines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The analysis in support of the proposed rule had a minor 
error in the formula for calculating history for repeat violations 
of the same standard, the effect of which was to slightly 
underestimate the impact of the proposed rule. The analysis also 
improperly assigned history points to operators with fewer than 10 
violations over a previous 15-month period, the effect of which was 
to slightly overestimate the impact of the proposed rule. These 
errors have been corrected in MSHA's analysis of the final rule. The 
corrected estimate of total civil penalties under the proposed rule, 
assuming no compliance response by industry, is $70.0 million 
(rather than $68.5 million); the average civil penalty is $600 
(rather than $587); and the percentage increase of civil penalties 
is 182% (rather than 176%).

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[[Page 13628]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.018

    As indicated in these tables, MSHA estimates that total civil 
penalty assessments will increase under the final rule, assuming no 
compliance response, from $24.9 million to $69.3 million, an increase 
of $44.5 million, or 179%. Approximately $2.5 million, or 4%, will come 
from special assessments. Of the $44.5 million increase, approximately 
$1.9 million will result from the minimum penalty provisions for 
unwarrantable violations in the MINER Act. In its analysis of 2005 
data, MSHA found one violation which met the failure to provide timely 
notification provision in the MINER Act. For this category of 
violations, the MINER Act imposes a penalty of $5,000 to $60,000. The 
particular violation, however, had already received a special 
assessment in excess of $5,000. Thus, MSHA did not adjust penalty 
totals to account for this provision of the MINER Act.
    MSHA has determined that flagrant violations will be processed 
under the special assessment provision. As stated in the final rule, 
MSHA will use the definition for flagrant violation in the MINER Act, 
but the Agency cannot estimate, at this point in the rulemaking 
process, the specific impact of this new requirement in the MINER Act. 
The Agency does, however, anticipate that penalties will increase due 
to this provision.
    MSHA estimates that the average penalty assessment will increase 
under the final rule, assuming no compliance response, from $213 (shown 
in Table III-3) to $594 (shown in Table III-5), an increase of 179% 
(shown in Table III-

[[Page 13629]]

6). Consistent with Congressional intent, the average penalty generally 
increases as mine size or contractor size increases (shown in Table 
III-5).
    For purposes of the analysis, special assessments that would be 
processed as special assessments under the final rule were assumed to 
receive the same penalty, unless they would be impacted by the minimum 
penalty provisions of the MINER Act. The average penalty for special 
assessments issued to agents of the mine operator is estimated to 
increase by 367% under the final rule. All of this increase is due to 
the application of the minimum penalty provisions for unwarrantable 
violations in the MINER Act.
    For purposes of analysis, MSHA assumes that all specially assessed 
violations, except those involving fatalities, agents, failure to 
timely notify MSHA, and flagrant violations, would be processed as 
regular assessments under the final rule. In the analysis, the average 
penalty increased by 98% for those 2005 special assessments that would 
be processed as regular assessments under the final rule.
3. Impact With Improved Compliance Response to Increased Penalties
    MSHA intends and expects that increased penalty assessments will 
lead to efforts by mine operators and independent contractors to 
increase compliance with MSHA standards and regulations and ultimately 
to fewer violations and improved mine safety and health. MSHA assumes 
that each violation is associated with a probability of occurrence that 
declines as penalty assessments rise. To estimate this impact, MSHA 
assumes that, at the margin, each 10% increase in penalty for a 
violation is associated with a 3% decrease in its probability of 
occurrence.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ MSHA included this sentence in the preamble and PREA for the 
proposed rule without the qualifying phrase ``at the margin.'' The 
phrase was added to address one commenter's erroneous conclusion 
that the sentence implied [according to MSHA's model] that a 99% 
decrease in the probability of a violation could be achieved by a 
330% increase in penalties. As MSHA indicated in both the PREA for 
the proposed rule and the REA for this final rule, MSHA's constant 
elasticity formula, P = AQ(1/[epsi]) (where P = the penalty amount, 
Q = the number of violations, A is an arbitrary parameter, and 
[epsi] = elasticity = -0.3) can be used to derive (Q2/Q1) = (P2/
P1)(-0.3). Thus, for example, an increase in a penalty from $60 to 
$100 would be associated with a reduction in the frequency of that 
violation from 1.0 to 0.86 (a 14% reduction). And a 330% increase in 
a penalty would be associated with a reduction in the frequency of 
that violation, not of 99%, but of 35%.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In economic terms, this is equivalent to assuming an elasticity of 
-0.3 between the number of violations and the dollar size of penalties. 
This elasticity of -0.3 was assumed by MSHA in its regulatory economic 
analysis for the 2003 direct final rule to adjust civil penalties for 
inflation.
    MSHA has applied this assumption to each assessed violation in the 
2005 database. For most violations, the final rule will result in a 
penalty increase. Accordingly, MSHA has computed a reduction (or in 
rare cases, an increase) in the probability of the violation's 
occurrence. The reduction is larger as the penalty increases.
    Tables III-7 and III-8 estimate the improved compliance response of 
the industry to increased penalty assessments.\4\ Table III-7 provides 
estimates for mine operators and Table III-8 provides estimates for 
independent contractors. Tables III-7 and III-8 show, by employment 
size, by coal and metal and nonmetal mining operations, and by 
independent contractors at coal and metal and nonmetal mines, the 
number of violations and the dollar amount of penalties in the 2005 
database under the existing rule. Further, using the assumption that 
the elasticity of response is -0.3 for each violation, Tables III-7 and 
III-8 estimate the new reduced number of violations and the increased 
penalties associated with these violations under the final rule. Taking 
into account the mining industry's improved compliance response, MSHA 
estimates that, were the final rule in effect in 2005, total violations 
would have declined from 116,673 to 93,422, or a reduction of 
approximately 20%.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The analysis in support of the proposed rule had a minor 
error in the formula for calculating history for repeat violations 
of the same standard, the effect of which was to slightly 
underestimate the impact of the proposed rule. The analysis also 
improperly assigned history points to operators with fewer than 10 
violations over a previous 15-month period, the effect of which was 
to slightly overestimate the impact of the proposed rule. These 
errors have been corrected in MSHA's analysis of the final rule. The 
corrected estimate of total civil penalties under the proposed rule, 
after improved compliance response by industry, is $46.3 million 
(rather than $45.8 million in the proposal); the additional 
expenditures to improve compliance are $9.2 million (rather than 
$9.0 million); and the percentage increase after improved compliance 
response, is 86% (rather than 84%).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 13630]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.019

    The ``Increase in Penalties'' column represents the increase in 
penalties, relative to the baseline, for remaining violations. The 
increase in proposed penalty assessments is approximately $17.1 million 
for coal mine operators,

[[Page 13631]]

$0.4 million for coal independent contractors, $4.2 million for metal 
and nonmetal mine operators, and $0.4 million for metal and nonmetal 
independent contractors. The increase for all operators, $22.1 million, 
reflects the total increase in penalties for the final rule, taking 
into account mine operators' improved compliance behavior.
    To reduce the number of violations in response to the increased 
penalty assessments, MSHA assumes that mines will increase expenditures 
to improve compliance with MSHA safety and health standards. (The REA 
for the final rule provides an explanation of how expenditures are 
calculated.) The column, ``Additional Expenditures to Improve 
Compliance,'' represents MSHA's estimate of these expenditures. These 
estimates are based on the same assumption that the elasticity of 
response is -0.3 and the additional assumption that the increased 
compliance activities will be undertaken by the mining industry to 
avoid increased penalties.
    Table III-9 summarizes the impact of the final rule by mining 
sector and indicates that the combined impact of additional 
expenditures to improve compliance and the increase in penalties, given 
improved compliance is $31.5 million a year.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.020


[[Page 13632]]


4. Impact of Increased Cost of Safety and Health Conferences
    Section 100.6 of 30 CFR allows all parties to request a safety and 
health conference with the district manager and designee. The final 
rule includes a new requirement in Sec.  100.6(b) that the request for 
a safety and health conference be in writing and include a brief 
statement of the reason why each citation or order should be 
conferenced.
    MSHA data indicate that 9,287 violations were conferenced in 2005-
4,567 by coal operators and contractors, and 4,720 by metal and 
nonmetal operators and contractors.\5\ For purposes of estimating 
costs, MSHA assumes that the annual number of safety and health 
conference requests will be the same, after the final rule takes effect 
(the reduced number of violations due to increased penalties and 
improved compliance offset by the additional incentive, due to 
increased penalties, to request a safety and health conference). Table 
III-10 shows the estimated number of written requests for a safety and 
health conference to review a violation, disaggregated by employment 
size, coal and metal and nonmetal operations, and independent 
contractors at coal and metal and nonmetal mines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Typically, multiple violations are combined into a single 
safety and health conference request. In 2005, the 4,567 coal 
violations were reviewed in 1,585 safety and health conferences, and 
the 4,720 M/NM violations were reviewed in 1,123 safety and health 
conferences. In the text, the costs for a safety and health 
conference are estimated per violation, not per conference.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.021

    MSHA estimates that it would take approximately 9 minutes per 
violation for a mine supervisor to prepare a written request for a 
safety and health conference. Because each request for a safety and 
health conference bundles together an average of between three and four 
violations, the 9 minutes per violation is equivalent to between 27 and 
36 minutes to prepare a written request for each safety and health 
conference. The hourly wage rate for a coal supervisor is $63.39; the 
hourly wage rate for a metal and nonmetal supervisor is $47.10.\6\ MSHA 
estimates that it will cost, on average, approximately $1 to submit 
each written request (by mail, fax, or e-mail). Based on this 
information, each written request for a conference would cost 
approximately $10.51 for a coal operator or contractor and $8.06 for a 
metal and nonmetal operator or contractor. Table III-11 provides MSHA's 
estimate of the annual costs for coal and metal and nonmetal mine 
contactors and operators to make written requests for conferences.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Data from pp. 6, B3 of U.S. Coal Mines Salaries, Wages, and 
Benefits--2005 Survey Results, Western Mine Engineering Inc.; pp. 8, 
B2 of U.S. Metal and Industrial Mineral Mine Salaries, Wages, and 
Benefits--2005 Survey Results, Western Mine Engineering Inc.; and 
MSHA calculations.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.022


[[Page 13633]]



C. Benefits

    The benefits of the final rule are the reduced number of injuries 
and fatalities that would result from improved compliance with MSHA's 
health and safety standards and regulations in response to increased 
penalty assessments. MSHA projects that increased penalties will induce 
mine operators to reduce all safety and health violations. The 
reduction in all violations, and particularly S&S violations, or those 
reasonably likely to result in reasonably serious injury or illness, 
will reduce the number and severity of injuries and illnesses.

IV. Feasibility

    MSHA has concluded that the requirements of the final rule are 
technologically and economically feasible.

A. Technological Feasibility

    The final rule is a regulation, not a standard. It does not involve 
activities on the frontiers of scientific knowledge. The mining 
industry has been complying with the adjudication and payment of civil 
penalties for decades. MSHA concludes, therefore, that the final rule 
is technologically feasible.

B. Economic Feasibility

    MSHA estimates that the yearly increased compliance costs and 
penalty assessments for coal mines as a result of the final rule will 
be $25.1 million dollars, which is equal to approximately 0.09 percent 
of coal mine sector revenues of $26.7 billion in 2005. MSHA estimates 
that the yearly increased compliance costs and penalty assessments for 
metal and nonmetal mines as a result of the final rule will be $6.5 
million dollars, which is equal to approximately 0.01 percent of metal 
and nonmetal mine sector revenues of $51.5 billion in 2005. Penalty 
assessment estimates for both coal and metal and nonmetal include 
MSHA's assumption that mine operators will change their behavior and 
improve compliance as a result of increased penalties, and thereby 
receive fewer violations. Since the total estimated increased penalty 
assessments for both the coal and metal and nonmetal mine operators are 
well below one percent of their estimated revenue, MSHA concludes that 
the final rule is economically feasible for the mining industry.

V. Regulatory Flexibility Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act (SBREFA)

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) of 1980, as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA), MSHA has analyzed the impact of the final rule on small 
entities. Based on that analysis, MSHA certifies that the final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The factual basis for this certification is presented 
below.

A. Definition of a Small Mine

    Under the RFA, in analyzing the impact of a final rule on small 
entities, MSHA must use the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 
definition for a small entity, or after consultation with the SBA 
Office of Advocacy, establish an alternative definition for the mining 
industry by publishing that definition in the Federal Register for 
notice and comment. MSHA has not established an alternate definition, 
and hence is required to use the SBA definition. The SBA defines a 
small entity in the mining industry as an establishment with 500 or 
fewer employees (13 CFR 121.201).
    MSHA has also examined the impact of agency rules on a subset of 
mines with 500 or fewer employees--mines with fewer than 20 employees, 
which MSHA and the mining community have traditionally referred to as 
``small mines.'' These small mines differ from larger mines not only in 
the number of employees, but also in economies of scale in material 
produced, in the type and amount of production equipment, and in supply 
inventory. Therefore, their costs of complying with MSHA's rules and 
the impact of the agency's rules on them will also tend to be 
different. It is for this reason that ``small mines,'' as traditionally 
defined by MSHA as those employing fewer than 20 workers, are of 
special concern to MSHA. In addition, for this final rule, MSHA has 
examined the cost on mines with five or fewer employees to ensure that 
this subset of mines is not significantly and adversely impacted by the 
final rule.
    This analysis complies with the legal requirements of the RFA for 
an analysis of the impact on ``small entities'' while continuing MSHA's 
traditional definition of ``small mines.'' Both the final rule and this 
analysis also reflect MSHA's concern for mines with five or fewer 
employees. MSHA concludes that it can certify that the final rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. MSHA has determined that this is the case for mines with 
fewer than 20 employees and mines with 500 or fewer employees. In its 
detailed factual basis below, MSHA will also show the impact of the 
final rule on mines with five or fewer employees.

B. Factual Basis for Certification

    MSHA's analysis of the economic impact on ``small entities'' begins 
with a ``screening'' analysis. The screening compares the estimated 
costs of a rule for small entities to the estimated revenue. When 
estimated costs are less than one percent of estimated revenue (for the 
size categories considered), MSHA believes it is generally appropriate 
to conclude that there is no significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. If estimated costs are equal to 
or exceed one percent of revenue, it tends to indicate that further 
analysis may be warranted.
    Normally, the analysis of the costs or economic impact of a rule 
assumes that mine operators are in 100% compliance with a rule. Under 
the assumption that mine operators are in 100% compliance with all of 
MSHA's rules, there would be no cost of compliance with the final rule, 
since no mine operator would be liable for civil penalties. For 
purposes of analyzing the effects on small mines, MSHA reverses this 
usual assumption and instead analyzes the increased penalty assessments 
for mines not in compliance with the agency's safety and health 
standards and regulations.
    Total underground and surface coal production was 368 million tons 
and 765 million tons, respectively. The 2005 price of underground and 
surface coal was $36.42 and $17.37 per ton, respectively.\7\ Thus, 
total estimated coal revenue in 2005 was $26.7 billion ($13.4 billion 
for underground and $13.3 billion for surface production). Using the 
same approach, the estimated 2005 coal revenue by employment size 
category is estimated to be approximately $75 million for mines with 1-
5 employees, $657 million for mines with 1-19 employees, and $20.5 
billion for mines with 1-500 employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ The average price for underground and surface coal of $36.42 
and $17.37 per ton, respectively, comes from the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Energy Information Administration, ``Annual Coal Report 
2005,'' Table 28, October 2006.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For metal and nonmetal mines, the total 2005 estimated revenue 
generated by the metal and nonmetal industry ($51.5 billion)\8\ was 
divided by the total number of employee hours to arrive at the average 
revenue per hour of employee production ($165.19). The $165.19 was 
multiplied by employee hours in specific mine size categories to arrive 
at estimated revenue for these categories. This approach was used to 
determine the estimated revenue for the metal and nonmetal mining 
industry

[[Page 13634]]

because MSHA does not collect data on metal and nonmetal production. 
The 2005 metal and nonmetal revenue is estimated to be approximately 
$3.4 billion for mines with 1-5 employees, $15.6 billion for mines with 
1-19 employees, and $46.5 billion for mines with 1-500 employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 
``Mineral Commodity Summaries 2006,'' p. 8, January 2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table V-1 below shows that when dividing the increase in penalties 
and safety and health conference costs by the revenue in each mine size 
category, the cost of the rule for coal mines is 0.46% of revenue for 
mines with 1-5 employees, 0.25% of revenue for mines with 1-19 
employees, and 0.11% of revenue for mines with 1-500 employees. Table 
V-1 also shows the penalty and cost increase as a percentage of revenue 
for all coal mines to be 0.09%.
    Table V-1 also shows that when dividing the increase in penalties 
and safety and health conference costs by the revenue in each mine size 
category, the cost of the rule for metal and nonmetal mines is 0.03% of 
revenue for mines with 1-5 employees, 0.01% of revenue for mines with 
1-19 employees, and 0.01% of revenue for mines with 1-500 employees. 
Table V-1 shows the penalty and cost increase as a percentage of 
revenue for all metal and nonmetal mines to be 0.01%.
    For coal mines, Table V-1 further shows that the final rule will 
result in an average increase in costs and penalties per mine of: $619 
for mines with 1-5 employees; $1,405 for mines with 1-19 employees; and 
$10,821 for mines with 500 or fewer employees. For metal and nonmetal 
mines, Table V-1 shows that the final rule will result in an average 
increase in costs and penalties per mine of: $149 for mines with 1-5 
employees; $213 for mines with 1-19 employees; and $457 for mines with 
500 or fewer employees.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.023

    As shown in Table V-1, when applying MSHA's and SBA's definitions 
of small mines, yearly costs of the final rule are substantially less 
than one percent of estimated yearly revenue, well below the level 
suggesting that the rule might have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, MSHA has certified 
that the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities that are covered by the rule.

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
    Revised paragraph (b) in Sec.  100.6 requires that a request for a 
safety and health conference be in writing and include a brief 
statement of the reason that each citation or order should be 
conferenced. MSHA views this new provision as an administrative action 
that is not subject to the PRA.

VII. Other Regulatory Considerations

A. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The final rule does not include any Federal mandate that may result 
in increased expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments; nor 
does it increase private sector expenditures by more than $100 million 
annually; nor does it significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments. Accordingly, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) requires no further agency action or analysis.

B. Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999: 
Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The final rule will have no effect on family well-being or 
stability, marital commitment, parental rights or authority, or income 
or poverty of families and children. Accordingly, Sec.  654 of the 
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999 (5 U.S.C. 
601 note) requires no further agency action, analysis, or assessment.

C. Executive Order 12630: Government Actions and Interference With 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights

    The final rule will not implement a policy with takings 
implications. Accordingly, Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions 
and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights, 
requires no further agency action or analysis.

D. Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    The final rule was drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. The final rule was written 
to provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct and was 
carefully reviewed to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguities, so as 
to minimize litigation and undue burden on the Federal court system. 
MSHA has determined that the final rule meets the

[[Page 13635]]

applicable standards provided in Sec.  3 of Executive Order 12988.

E. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks

    The final rule will have no adverse impact on children. 
Accordingly, Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from 
Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks, as amended by Executive 
Orders 13229 and 13296, requires no further agency action or analysis.

F. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    The final rule does not have ``federalism implications'' because it 
does not ``have substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.'' Accordingly, Executive Order 13132, Federalism, requires 
no further agency action or analysis.

G. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Governments

    The final rule does not have ``tribal implications'' because it 
does not ``have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian 
tribes, on the relationship between the Federal government and Indian 
tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between 
the Federal government and Indian tribes.'' Accordingly, Executive 
Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, requires no further agency action or analysis.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    The final rule has been reviewed for its impact on the supply, 
distribution, and use of energy because it applies to the coal mining 
industry. Insofar as the final rule will result in added yearly 
compliance costs and civil penalty assessments of approximately $25.1 
million to the coal mining industry, relative to annual revenue of 
$26.7 billion in 2005, it is not a ``significant energy action'' 
because it is not ``likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy * * * (including a shortfall in 
supply, price increases, and increased use of foreign supplies).'' 
Accordingly, Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use, requires no 
further Agency action or analysis.

I. Executive Order 13272: Proper Consideration of Small Entities in 
Agency Rulemaking

    MSHA has thoroughly reviewed the final rule to assess and take 
appropriate account of its potential impact on small businesses, small 
governmental jurisdictions, and small organizations. MSHA has 
determined and certified that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 100

    Mine safety and health, Penalties.

    Dated: March 15, 2007.
Richard E. Stickler,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of the 
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, Chapter I of Title 30, 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 100 is revised to read as follows:

PART 100--CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR PROPOSED ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL 
PENALTIES

Sec.
100.1 Scope and purpose.
100.2 Applicability.
100.3 Determination of penalty amount; regular assessment.
100.4 Unwarrantable failure.
100.5 Determination of penalty amount; special assessment.
100.6 Procedures for review of citations and orders; procedures for 
assessment of civil penalties and conferences.
100.7 Notice of proposed penalty; notice of contest.
100.8 Service.

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 815, 820, 957.


Sec.  100.1  Scope and purpose.

    This part provides the criteria and procedures for proposing civil 
penalties under sections 105 and 110 of the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act). The purpose of this part is to provide a 
fair and equitable procedure for the application of the statutory 
criteria in determining proposed penalties for violations, to maximize 
the incentives for mine operators to prevent and correct hazardous 
conditions, and to assure the prompt and efficient processing and 
collection of penalties.


Sec.  100.2  Applicability.

    The criteria and procedures in this part are applicable to all 
proposed assessments of civil penalties for violations of the Mine Act 
and the standards and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Mine Act, 
as amended. MSHA shall review each citation and order and shall make 
proposed assessments of civil penalties.


Sec.  100.3  Determination of penalty amount; regular assessment.

    (a) General. (1) Except as provided in Sec.  100.5(e), the operator 
of any mine in which a violation occurs of a mandatory health or safety 
standard or who violates any other provision of the Mine Act, as 
amended, shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $60,000. 
Each occurrence of a violation of a mandatory safety or health standard 
may constitute a separate offense. The amount of the proposed civil 
penalty shall be based on the criteria set forth in sections 105(b) and 
110(i) of the Mine Act. These criteria are:
    (i) The appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business 
of the operator charged;
    (ii) The operator's history of previous violations;
    (iii) Whether the operator was negligent;
    (iv) The gravity of the violation;
    (v) The demonstrated good faith of the operator charged in 
attempting to achieve rapid compliance after notification of a 
violation; and
    (vi) The effect of the penalty on the operator's ability to 
continue in business.
    (2) A regular assessment is determined by first assigning the 
appropriate number of penalty points to the violation by using the 
appropriate criteria and tables set forth in this section. The total 
number of penalty points will then be converted into a dollar amount 
under the penalty conversion table in paragraph (g) of this section. 
The penalty amount will be adjusted for demonstrated good faith in 
accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.
    (b) The appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business 
of the operator charged. The appropriateness of the penalty to the size 
of the mine operator's business is calculated by using both the size of 
the mine cited and the size of the mine's controlling entity. The size 
of coal mines and their controlling entities is measured by coal 
production. The size of metal and nonmetal mines and their controlling 
entities is measured by hours worked. The size of independent 
contractors is measured by the total hours worked at all mines. Penalty 
points for size are assigned based on Tables I to V. As used in these 
tables, the terms ``annual tonnage'' and ``annual hours worked'' mean 
coal produced and hours worked in the previous calendar year. In cases 
where a full year of data is not available, the coal produced or hours 
worked is

[[Page 13636]]

prorated to an annual basis. This criterion accounts for a maximum of 
25 penalty points.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.024


[[Page 13637]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.025


[[Page 13638]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.026

    (c) History of previous violations. An operator's history of 
previous violations is based on both the total number of violations and 
the number of repeat violations of the same citable provision of a 
standard in a preceding 15-month period. Only assessed violations that 
have been paid or finally adjudicated, or have become final orders of 
the Commission will be included in determining an operator's history. 
The repeat aspect of the history criterion in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section applies only after an operator has received 10 violations or an 
independent contractor operator has received 6 violations.
    (1) Total number of violations. For mine operators, penalty points 
are assigned on the basis of the number of violations per inspection 
day (VPID)(Table VI). Penalty points are not assigned for mines with 
fewer than 10 violations in the specified history period. For 
independent contractors, penalty points are assigned on the basis of 
the total number of violations at all mines (Table VII). This aspect of 
the history criterion accounts for a maximum of 25 penalty points.

[[Page 13639]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.027

    (2) Repeat violations of the same standard. Repeat violation 
history is based on the number of violations of the same citable 
provision of a standard in a preceding 15-month period. For coal and 
metal and nonmetal mine operators with a minimum of six repeat 
violations, penalty points are assigned on the basis of the number of 
repeat violations per inspection day (RPID) (Table VIII). For 
independent contractors, penalty points are assigned on the basis of 
the number of violations at all mines (Table IX). This aspect of the 
history criterion accounts for a maximum of 20 penalty points (Table 
VIII).

[[Page 13640]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.028


[[Page 13641]]


    (d) Negligence. Negligence is conduct, either by commission or 
omission, which falls below a standard of care established under the 
Mine Act to protect miners against the risks of harm. Under the Mine 
Act, an operator is held to a high standard of care. A mine operator is 
required to be on the alert for conditions and practices in the mine 
that affect the safety or health of miners and to take steps necessary 
to correct or prevent hazardous conditions or practices. The failure to 
exercise a high standard of care constitutes negligence. The negligence 
criterion assigns penalty points based on the degree to which the 
operator failed to exercise a high standard of care. When applying this 
criterion, MSHA considers mitigating circumstances which may include, 
but are not limited to, actions taken by the operator to prevent or 
correct hazardous conditions or practices. This criterion accounts for 
a maximum of 50 penalty points, based on conduct evaluated according to 
Table X.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.029

    (e) Gravity. Gravity is an evaluation of the seriousness of the 
violation. This criterion accounts for a maximum of 88 penalty points, 
as derived from the Tables XI through XIII. Gravity is determined by 
the likelihood of the occurrence of the event against which a standard 
is directed; the severity of the illness or injury if the event has 
occurred or was to occur; and the number of persons potentially 
affected if the event has occurred or were to occur.

[[Page 13642]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.030


[[Page 13643]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22MR07.031

    (f) Demonstrated good faith of the operator in abating the 
violation. This criterion provides a 10% reduction in the penalty 
amount of a regular assessment where the operator abates the violation 
within the time set by the inspector.
    (g) Penalty conversion table. The penalty conversion table is used 
to convert the total penalty points to a dollar amount.

[[Page 13644]]

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    (h) The effect of the penalty on the operator's ability to continue 
in business. MSHA presumes that the operator's ability to continue in 
business will not be affected by the assessment of a civil penalty. The 
operator may, however, submit information to the District Manager 
concerning the financial status of the business. If the information 
provided by the operator indicates that the penalty will adversely 
affect the operator's ability to continue in business, the penalty may 
be reduced.


Sec.  100.4  Unwarrantable failure.

    (a) The minimum penalty for any citation or order issued under 
section 104(d)(1) of the Mine Act shall be $2,000.
    (b) The minimum penalty for any order issued under section 
104(d)(2) of the Mine Act shall be $4,000.


Sec.  100.5  Determination of penalty amount; special assessment.

    (a) MSHA may elect to waive the regular assessment under Sec.  
100.3 if it determines that conditions warrant a special assessment.
    (b) When MSHA determines that a special assessment is appropriate, 
the proposed penalty will be based on the six criteria set forth in 
Sec.  100.3(a). All findings shall be in narrative form.
    (c) Any operator who fails to correct a violation for which a 
citation has been issued under section 104(a) of the Mine Act within 
the period permitted for its correction may be assessed a civil penalty 
of not more than $6,500 for each day during which such failure or 
violation continues.
    (d) Any miner who willfully violates the mandatory safety standards 
relating to smoking or the carrying of smoking materials, matches, or 
lighters shall be subject to a civil penalty which shall not be more 
than $275 for each occurrence of such violation.
    (e) Violations that are deemed to be flagrant under section 
110(b)(2) of the Mine Act may be assessed a civil penalty of not more 
than $220,000. For purposes of this section, a flagrant violation means 
``a reckless or repeated failure to make reasonable efforts to 
eliminate a known violation of a mandatory health or safety standard 
that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have 
been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury.''
    (f) The penalty for failure to provide timely notification to the 
Secretary under section 103(j) of the Mine Act will be not less than 
$5,000 and not more than $60,000 for the following accidents:
    (1) The death of an individual at the mine, or
    (2) An injury or entrapment of an individual at the mine which has 
a reasonable potential to cause death.


Sec.  100.6  Procedures for review of citations and orders; procedures 
for assessment of civil penalties and conferences.

    (a) All parties shall be afforded the opportunity to review with 
MSHA each citation and order issued during an inspection. It is within 
the sole discretion of MSHA to grant a request for a conference and to 
determine the nature of the conference.
    (b) Upon notice by MSHA, all parties will have 10 days within which 
to submit additional information or request a safety and health 
conference with the District Manager or designee. A conference request 
may include a request to be notified of, and to participate in, a 
conference initiated by another party. A conference request must be in 
writing and must include a brief statement of the reason why each 
citation or order should be conferenced.
    (c) When a conference is conducted, the parties may submit any 
additional relevant information relating to the violation, either prior 
to or at the conference. To expedite the conference, the official 
assigned to the case may contact the parties to discuss the issues 
involved prior to the conference.
    (d) MSHA will consider all relevant information submitted in a 
timely manner by the parties with respect to the violation. When the 
facts warrant a finding that no violation occurred, the citation or 
order will be vacated. Upon conclusion of the conference, or expiration 
of the conference request period, all citations that are abated and all 
orders will be promptly referred to MSHA's Office of Assessments. The 
Office of Assessments will use the citations, orders, and inspector's 
evaluation as the basis for determining the appropriate amount of a 
proposed penalty.


Sec.  100.7  Notice of proposed penalty; notice of contest.

    (a) A notice of proposed penalty will be issued and served by 
certified mail, or the equivalent, upon the party to be charged and by 
regular mail to the representative of miners at the mine after the time 
permitted to request a conference under Sec.  100.6 expires, or upon 
the completion of a conference, or upon review by MSHA of additional 
information submitted in a timely manner.
    (b) Upon receipt of the notice of proposed penalty, the party 
charged shall have 30 days to either:
    (1) Pay the proposed assessment. Acceptance by MSHA of payment 
tendered by the party charged will close the case.
    (2) Notify MSHA in writing of the intention to contest the proposed 
penalty. When MSHA receives the notice of contest, it advises the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (Commission) of such 
notice. No proposed penalty which has been contested before the 
Commission shall be compromised, mitigated or settled except with the 
approval of the Commission.
    (c) If the proposed penalty is not paid or contested within 30 days 
of receipt, the proposed penalty becomes a final order of the 
Commission and is not subject to review by any court or agency.


Sec.  100.8  Service.

    (a) All operators are required by part 41 (Notification of Legal 
Identity) of this chapter to file with MSHA the name and address of 
record of the operator. All representatives of miners are required by 
part 40 (Representative of Miners) of this chapter to file with MSHA 
the mailing address of the person or organization acting in a 
representative capacity. Proposed penalty assessments delivered to 
those addresses shall constitute service.
    (b) If any of the parties choose to have proposed penalty 
assessments mailed to a different address, the Office of Assessments 
must be notified in writing of the new address. Delivery to this 
address shall also constitute service.
    (c) Service for operators who fail to file under part 41 of this 
chapter will be upon the last known business address recorded with 
MSHA.

[FR Doc. 07-1402 Filed 3-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P