OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall Page 1 of 3

COALEX STATE INQUIRY REPORT - 326

July 1995

Kathy Frank

Oklahoma Department of Mines

Route 4 - Box 208AA

Wagoner, Oklahoma 74467

TOPIC: PREPAYMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES (Update of COALEX Report No. 123)

INQUIRY: Please locate cases that rule on the need to prepay civil penalties when 

petitioning for a review of the proposed penalties. Attorneys for the cited permittee are 

claiming that requiring the money before a hearing is unconstitutional and violates due 

process. 

SEARCH RESULTS: A earlier COALEX Report on this topic was updated using the 

COALEX Library and other LEXIS materials. All of the administrative, state and federal 

cases identified hold that it is not unconstitutional nor a violation of due process to 

require a prepayment of civil penalties.

Copies of the original report and the supplemental materials are attached. 

ATTACHMENTS

1. COALEX STATE INQUIRY REPORT - 123, "Prepayment of civil penalties" 

(1989). 

A. FRANKLIN v. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL 

PROTECTION CABINET, No. 87-CA-2602-MR, 1989 Ky. App. LEXIS 46 

(Ky. Ct. App. 1989). 

B. LYLE CONSTRUCTION, INC. v. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL 

RESOURCES, 516 N.E.2d 209 (Ohio 1987). 

C. LYLE CONSTRUCTION, INC. v. DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, No. 426, 

slip op. (Ohio Ct. App. 1986). 

D. BOYLE LAND AND FUEL, CO. v. COMMONWEALTH OF 

PENNSYLVANIA, 475 A.2d 928 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1984). 

E. DRESSLER COAL CO. v DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, No. CA-88-1, 

1988 Ohio App. LEXIS 5136 (Ohio App Ct. 1988). 

F. TWELVE VEIN COAL CO. v COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, 

No. 876 C.D. 1988, 1989 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 515 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 

1988). 
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall Page 2 of 3

G. GRAHAM v OSMRE, 722 F.2d 1106 (3rd Cir. 1983). 

H. BLACKHAWK MINING CO. v ANDRUS, 711 F.2d 753 (6th Cir. 1983). 

I. B & M COAL CORP. v OSMRE, 699 F.2d 381 (7th Cir. 1982). 

J. JOHN WALTERS COAL CO. v WATT, 553 F. Supp. 838 (E.D.Ky. 1982). 

K. U.S.A. v THOMPSON BROTHERS COAL, CO., 532 F. Supp. 979 

(W.D.Pa. 1982). 

L. U.S. v FINLEY, 835 F.2d 134 (6th Cir. 1987). 

M. ANNOTATION, "Penalties Under 30 USCS Sec. 1268 for Violating 

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act", 82 A.L.R. Fed. 218 (1988). 

N. H. REP. 93-1072, 93rd Cong., 2nd Sess. (1974). 

O. S. REP. 28, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. (1975). 

P. 120 CONG. REC. 24,594 (July 23, 1974). 

Q. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977: HEARINGS on S. 7 

Before the Subcomm. on Public Lands and Resources of the Senate 

Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 1038 

(1977) (statement of J. Davitt McAteer and L. Thomas Galloway, Council 

of the Southern Mountains, Inc.). 

R. H.R. 2, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 115-118 (1977). 

S. H. REP. 95-218, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 68 (1977). 

T. S. REP. 95-128, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 58 (1977).

2. FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES 

A. 45 FR 58780 (SEPTEMBER 4, 1980). Final rulemaking. Civil Penalties. 

B. 51 FR 16319 (MAY 2, 1986). Final rule. Special rules applicable to surface 

coal mining hearings and appeals. 

C. 56 FR 10060 (MARCH 8, 1991). Final rule. Civil penalty assessment 

conference procedures.

3. INTERIOR ADMINISTRATIVE CASES 

A. R.C.T. ENGINEERING, INC. v OSM, 1987 IBLA LEXIS 304, IBLA 87-408, 

87-409 (1987). 

B. BROWN BROS. COAL CO., INC. v OSM, 1987 IBLA LEXIS 303, IBLA 87-

463 (1987). 

C. BILL SMITH COAL CO. v OSM, 101 IBLA 224, 1988 IBLA LEXIS 269, 

IBLA 87-473 (1988). 

D. BEN COLLINS v OSM, 92 IBLA 371, 1986 IBLA LEXIS 279, IBLA 85-466, 

85-467 (1986). 

E. TRI COAL CO. v OSM, 85 IBLA, 1985 IBLA LEXIS 311, IBLA 85-269 

(1985). 

F. ERNEST EDWARDS, EDWARDS MINING CO. & EDWARDS COAL CO. 

v OSM, Docket No. NS 88-32-P (1988). 
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall Page 3 of 3

G. EDWARDS COAL CO. v OSM, Docket No. NX 88-31-P (1988). 

H. J.A.D. COAL CO., INC., ARTHRU WOODARD COAL CO., MCAFEE 

COAL CO. v OSM, Docket No. NX 88-29-P (1988). 

I. PARAMONT COAL CORP. v OSM, Docket No. NX 88-28-P (1988). 

J. BOTNER GAMBREL COAL CO. v OSM, Docket No. NX 7-45-P (1988).

4. STATE CASES 

A. BOYLE LAND & FUEL v ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING BOARD, 488 A 2d 

1109 (Pa 1985). 

B. DRESSLER COAL CO. v DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, 536 N.E. 2d 

1172 (Ohio 1989). 

C. ST. JAMES v DEPT. OF ENVTL. PROTECTION & ENERGY, 646 A 2d 

447 (NJ 1994). 

D. FRANKLIN v NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVTL. PROTECTION 

CABINET, 799 S.W. 2d 1 (Ky 1990). 

E. TRACEY MINING CO. v PENNSLYVANIA, 544 A 2d 1075 (Pa Commw Ct 

1988).

5. FEDERAL CASES 

A. B & M COAL CORP. v OSMRE, 699 F 2d 381 (7th Cir 1983). 

B. INDIANA v ANDRUS, 501 F Supp 452 (S.D. Ind 1980). 

C. HODEL v INDIANA, 452 U.S. 314 (1981). 

D. UNITED STATES v KOBALY, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15019, 25 ERC 

(BNA) 2110 (W.D. Pa 1987).