ISSUE DATE: 10/22/2010 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P10-19 

FROM: NEAL H. MERRIFIELD

 Administrator for Metal and Nonmetal 

 Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Realignment of District Mine Inspection Boundaries 

Scope

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) applies to Mine Safety and Health Administration 

(MSHA) Metal and Nonmetal (MNM) enforcement personnel, MNM mine operators and miners' 

representatives, independent contractors, and other interested parties. 

Purpose

The purpose of this PIB is to provide information on MSHA’s Metal and Nonmetal program area 

change in current district office boundaries and assigned inspection areas. 

Information

On October 1, 2010, the MNM program area will transition in a realignment which will result in 

a change in current district office boundaries and assigned inspection areas. The realignment 

will result in the following changes. 

Northeast District: The district boundary will be adjusted to transfer all metal and nonmetal 

mines in the state of Virginia to the Southeast District. Oversight for these mines will be 

provided by the Staunton, Virginia Field Office. Mines located in West Virginia and Maryland 

will remain under Northeast District jurisdiction with the Warrendale, Pennsylvania Field Office 

providing oversight in place of the Staunton, Virginia Field Office. 

Southeast District: The district boundary will be adjusted to transfer inspection responsibility 

for all metal and nonmetal mines in the state of Mississippi located in the counties of Desoto, 

Tunica, Tate, Panola, Quitman, Coahoma, Bolivar, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Saint, 

Carroll, Holmes, Yazoo, Attala, Leake, Scott, Smith, Jones, Wayne, Perry, Stone, Harrison, 

Jackson, Hancock, Pearl River, Lamar, Forrest, Covington, Simpson, Rankin, Hinds, Copiah, 

Claiborne, Adams, Wilkinson, Amite, Pike, Walthall, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, 

Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Marion, Warren, Issaquena, Sharkey, and Washington to the South 

Central District. Oversight responsibility for these mines will be provided by the Little Rock, 

Arkansas and Denham Springs, Louisiana Field Offices. 
2

North Central District: The district boundary will be adjusted to transfer inspection 

responsibility for all metal and nonmetal mines in the state of Ohio to the Northeast District. 

Oversight responsibility for these mines will be provided by the Hebron, Ohio Field Office. 

Rocky Mountain District: The district boundary will be adjusted to transfer inspection 

responsibility for all metal and nonmetal mines in Mohave County, Arizona and Washington 

County, Utah to the Western District. Oversight responsibility for these mines will be provided 

by the Boulder City, Nevada Field Office. 

Western District: The district boundary will be adjusted to transfer inspection responsibility for 

all metal and nonmetal mines in the state of Idaho in the counties of Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, 

Madison, Teton, Bingham, Bonneville, Caribou, Bannock, Power, Bear Lake, Franklin and 

Oneida to the Rocky Mountain District. Oversight responsibility for these mines will be 

provided by the Salt Lake City, Utah and Green River, Wyoming Field Offices. 

Background

Currently, some MNM enforcement personnel must drive up to eight hours to reach a mine. This 

realignment will reduce travel time and expenses associated with traveling to mines and increase 

enforcement time at mine sites while reducing overall cost. These changes to the MNM district 

boundaries and offices with oversight responsibility are designed to improve the efficiency and 

effectiveness of the inspection process in support of the Agency’s 100% mandated inspection 

completion initiative. 

Authority

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. 

Internet Availability

This PIB may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's home page at (www.msha.gov), 

choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." 

Issuing Office and Contact Person

Metal and Nonmetal Safety and Health 

Safety Division 

Marvin Lichtenfels, (202) 693-9600 

E-mail: lichtenfels.marvin@dol.gov

Distribution

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

MSHA Enforcement Personnel 

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Operators 

Metal and Nonmetal Independent Contractors

Special Interest Groups