Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

1730 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006-3867

Phone, 202-653-5625

Chairman Mary Lu Jordan

Commissioners Robert H. Beatty, Jr., Mark L. Marks, James C. Riley, Theodore F. Verheggen

Chief Administrative Law Judge Paul Merlin

General Counsel Norman M. Gleichman

Executive Director Richard L. Baker

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The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial agency established by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The act, enforced by the Secretary of Labor through the Mine Safety and Health Administration, governs compliance with occupational safety and health standards in the Nation's surface and underground coal, metal, and nonmetal mines.

The Commission consists of five members who are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and who serve staggered, 6-year terms. The Chairman is selected from among the Commissioners.

The Commission and its Office of Administrative Law Judges are charged with deciding cases brought pursuant to the act by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, mine operators, and miners or their representatives. These cases generally involve review of the Administration's enforcement actions including citations, mine closure orders, and proposals for civil penalties issued for violations of the act or the mandatory safety and health standards promulgated by the Secretary of Labor. The Commission also has jurisdiction over

T177653.044

discrimination complaints filed by miners or their representatives in connection with their safety and health rights under the act, and over complaints for compensation filed on behalf of miners idled as a result of mine closure orders issued by the Administration.

Activities

Cases brought before the Commission are assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, and hearings are conducted pursuant to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 554, 556) and the Commission's procedural rules (29 CFR Part 2700).

A judge's decision becomes a final but nonprecedential order of the Commission 40 days after issuance unless the Commission has directed the case for review in response to a petition or on its own motion. If a review is conducted, a decision of the Commission becomes final 30 days after issuance...

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