In a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Patriot Coal confirmed the US Mine Safety and Health Administration issued the initial order to its Remington subsidiary April 25 for what it witnessed at the Winchester underground operation.
“During a routine inspection, an MSHA inspector purportedly observed two employees sitting on a section power center,” officials said.
“The company disputed the factual basis of the order [and], after conducting further review, MSHA vacated the order on April 29 … finding that the situation did not present an imminent danger.”
The producer said none of its employees were harmed or endangered in the condition and that its production was not impacted.
Patriot has not released any further comment on the order.
Imminent danger orders are issued by MSHA under section 107(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, also known as the Mine Act.
The room and pillar Winchester mine is part of Patriot’s Paint Creek complex in Appalachia. It operates from the Hernshaw seam.
