U.S. Mine Regulators Report Latest Inspection Data

Federal mining regulators issued 262 citations during the latest round of monthly impact inspections.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday it also issued 19 orders and three safeguards following inspections at eight coal mines and five other mines in July.

MSHA said it issued 54 citations and nine orders on the day of an impact inspection at Rebco Coal Inc.’s Valley Mine No. 1 in Claiborne, Tenn. Among the violations, inspectors cited inadequate examinations of the mine’s ventilation plan and the maintenance of electric equipment.

At Cobalt Coal Corp.’s Westchester Mine in West Virginia’s McDowell County, inspectors issued 47 enforcement actions and 39 citations in the mine’s first impact inspection.

The inspections began in 2010 after the Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 coal miners.