OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Research conducted by: Terri H. Petruska Page 1 of 3

COALEX STATE INQUIRY REPORT - 42

May 31, 1985

Bob Hykan 

Office of Attorney General 

1525 Sherman Street, 3rd Floor 

Denver, Colorado 80203

TOPIC: PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS

INQUIRY: Under SMCRA Sec. 521(a)(4), a "pattern of violations" may lead to a permit 

suspension or revocation. What type of connection must exist between the violations to 

constitute a "pattern of violations"? In this specific case, several notices of violations have been 

issued citing different regulations. The essential set of facts, however, are the same with similar 

underlying conditions. Could that be considered a "pattern of violations", even though different 

regulations have been involved?

SEARCH RESULTS:

Legislative History

Suspension or revocation resulting from a "pattern of violations" has been included in surface 

mining legislation since the 93rd Congress. The current version adopted in SMCRA Sec. 

521(a)(4) is similar to that of the 93rd Congressional bill. (See H. Rep. 93-1072, 93rd Cong., 2d 

Sess., 142 (1974))

The proposed section concerning the suspension and revocation of permits as submitted to the 

95th Congressional Conference Committee by the House and Senate, however, differed 

significantly. The final version adopted was that contained in Senate Bill S. 7. In lieu of the 

phrase "pattern of violations" the House bill had proposed that "where a Federal inspector finds 

three serious violations within 90 days of each other, he is to issue a cessation order. Upon the 

issuance of three cessation orders an order to show cause why the permit shall not be 

suspended or revoked shall issue [sic]." (H. Rep. 95-28, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 130 (1977); S. 

Rep. 95-337, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 110 (1977))

Criteria for what would constitute a pattern of violations was not identified in the legislative 

history. Of apparent significance, however, were the phrases "unwarranted failure to comply" 

and "willfully caused by the permittee." S. Rep. 95-128, discussing the section that was adopted 

by the Conference Committee, states that:

"Where the Secretary is the regulatory authority and a federal inspector determines that a 

pattern of violations of the Act or permit exists or has existed and that such violations are 

caused by the unwarranted failure of the permittee to comply or are willfully caused by the 

permittee, the inspector must issue an order to the permittee to show cause as to why his 

permit should not be suspended or revoked. If the permittee fails to show cause as to why 

the permit should not be suspended or revoked, the inspector must immediately suspend or 

revoke the permit.
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Research conducted by: Terri H. Petruska Page 2 of 3

"This provision requires that suspension or revocation of a mining permit be preconditioned 

upon conduct which demonstrably fails to meet the standards of care and diligence which 

are to be expected of permittees who seek to comply with the law." (S. Rep. 95-128, 95th 

Cong., 1st Sess. 92 (1977))

Federal Regulations/Interim Program - 30 CFR Sec. 722.16

During the development of the interim program regulations, the question arose as to whether it 

would be practical to develop either a national or regional norm that would automatically trigger 

a show cause order under this section. The concept was not adopted, although OSM proposed 

examining it further during the interim period as a statistical basis and analytical capability were 

developed. (42 FR 62639 (DECEMBER 13, 1977)) No further reference to the concept of the 

norm approach to a pattern of violations was identified.

The preamble to the interim regulations contains a discussion of how a permittee can 

demonstrate that he is not in a pattern of violations, once the show cause order is issued. 

Emphasizing the importance of the unwarranted or willful nature of the violations, the preamble 

states that: "This can be done in several ways including a showing that the violations alleged to 

constitute the pattern are neither willful nor unwariness or a showing that they are not 

violations." (42 FR 62669 (DECEMBER 13, 1977))

Federal Regulations/Permanent Program - 30 CFR Sec. 843.13

30 CFR Sec. 843.13 concerning suspension or revocation of permits under the permanent 

program was promulgated March 13, 1979 and later revised August 16, 1982. (44 FR 15300 

(MARCH 13, 1979); 47 FR 3562 (DECEMBER 16, 1982)) Under the revised section, if the 

Director "determines that a pattern of violations of any requirements of the Act, this chapter, the 

applicable program, or any permit condition required by the Act exists or has existed, and that 

the violations were caused by the permittee willfully or through unwarranted failure to comply 

with those requirements or conditions," the Director is required to issue a show cause order. 

The key change from the 1979 regulations is that "the Director is given discretion in determining 

the existence of a pattern of violations." Once such a determination has been made, however, 

the regulations continued to provide that the show cause order to issued." (30 CFR Sec. 

843.12(a)(1); 47 FR 35629 (AUGUST 16, 1982))

Under the federal regulations, the determination of a pattern of violations is based upon two or 

more federal inspections of the permit area within any 12-month period. To be considered are 

the number of violations cited on more than one occasion of the same or related requirements 

or of different requirements; and the extent to which the violations were isolated departures from 

lawful conduct. (30 CFR 843.13(a)(2)) Sec. 843.13(4) limits the NOV's to be those issued by 

federal inspectors under federal enforcement programs. Other violations "may be considered 

only as evidence of whether the pattern of violations was caused by a permittee willfully or 

through his unwarranted failure to comply, and may not be considered in determining the 

existence of the pattern itself." (47 FR 35631 (AUGUST 16, 1982))

During the revision process, two commenters proposed precluding a finding of a pattern of 

violations based on violations of different requirements. OSM disagreed stating that "under 
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Research conducted by: Terri H. Petruska Page 3 of 3

appropriate circumstances, a number of violations of different requirements can support a 

finding of a pattern of violations." (Id. at 35631)

Interior Board And Federal Court Decisions

A search of COALEX did not identify any relevant Interior Board* or federal court decisions.

*OSM is presently updating the COALEX files containing ALJ and Board decisions, and they 

may not be complete.

ALJ Decisions

OSM v RWR DEVELOPMENT CO. AND DEBCON COAL CO., CH 0-2-A (March 17, 1981).

July, 1980 OSM filed an order to show cause directed to RWR Development Co. and 

Debcon Coal Co. why their permit should not be revoked or suspended for an alleged 

pattern of violations. Administrative Law Judge Tom M. Allen found that OSM failed to 

present a prima facia case, as required under 43 CFR Sec. 4.1193, for suspension or 

revocation. Although the record supported that several violations occurred during the year, 

the credibility of the federal inspector who wrote the violations was in question and OSM 

failed to show "the type of negligence or want of such care necessary to overcome the 

testimony of its own witnesses and of Permittee and Operator." (Id. at 21; see also Id. at 17)

The basis used in the determination was "(1) if the violations issued were of such a nature to 

be classed as willful, (2) if the violation, not willful, were an unwarranted failure to comply, 

and (3) if the results of such determinations yield a finding of a pattern of violations meriting 

suspension or revocation of the permit." (Id. at 8)

ATTACHMENTS:

A. Excerpt, H. Rep. 93-1072, 93rd Cong., 2d Sess. 142 (1974).

B. Excerpt. S. Rep. 95-337, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 110 (1977).

C. Excerpt, H. Rep. 95-218, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 130 (1977).

D. Excerpt, S. Rep. 95-128, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 92 (1977).

E. Excerpt, 42 FR 62639 (DECEMBER 13, 1979), concerning 30 CFR Sec. 722.16.

F. 47 FR 35629 (AUGUST 16, 1982), preamble discussion of Part 843, Federal Enforcement.

G. OSM v RWR DEVELOPMENT CO. AND DEBCON COAL CO., CH 0-2-A (March 17, 1981).