The Missouri-based producer said via a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing last month that MSHA had notified Brody Mining’s no 1 complex that the PPOV existed.

After reviewing information from Brody, Patriot announced that “MSHA concluded that no potential pattern of violations exists at the mine and withdrew the notice”

Brody was a contract mining operation of Black Stallion Coal Company prior to its affiliation with Patriot Coal.

No employees were injured as a result of the classification and Patriot said production remained unaffected by the notification.

MSHA’s online PPOV monitoring tool, included in late 2011, allows anyone, including operators and miners, to determine how a mine matches up with screening data for a PPOV using the most recent data available.

It is based on enforcement data and is refreshed monthly.

The Mine Act provides for greater enforcement at mines exhibiting a pattern of violations of significant and substantial violations and the agency can screen for PPOV mines at least once a year.

Those receiving PPOV notices can implement corrective action programs and have the opportunity to reduce S&S rates to the agency’s targets.

Operators not meeting the targets are subject to a notice for a pattern of violations and closure orders for all of the S&S violations.