The producer said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the US Mine Safety and Health Administration handed down the order on February 26.
“On that date an inspector from the Mine Safety and Health Administration alleged that an unsafe condition existed on the spoil (southeast) side of the N-9 pit that was not corrected prior to employees accessing the pit to load drilled blast holes,” the company said.
“The employees were withdrawn from the base of the spoil wall and management has implemented an abatement plan.”
Imminent danger orders are issued under section 107(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, also known as the Mine Act.
The Kayenta Mine is operated by Peabody Western Coal, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy, and is on reservation lands in northeast Arizona.
The mine operates through lease agreements with the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, supplying approximately 8 million tons of low-sulfur thermal coal annually to Navajo Generating Station near Page, Arizona.
