**FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEWCOMMISSION**

**1331PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 520N**

**WASHINGTON,D.C. 20004-1710**

** **

** **

 

SECRETARYOF LABOR,                                                                           :                       Docket No. SE2021-0163

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH                                                             :

 

ADMINISTRATION (MSHA),                                                             :                       Docket No. SE2022-0001

on behalf of JASON HARGIS                                                                :

                                                                                                                        :                       Docket No. SE2022-0013

v.                                                                                             :

                                                                                                                        :

VULCANCONSTRUCTION                                                                        :

MATERIALS, LLC                                                                                  :

                                                                                                                        :

                                                                                                                        :

JASONHARGIS                                                                                            :

                                                                                                                        :

v.                                                                                             :

                                                                                                                        :

VULCANCONSTRUCTION                                                                        :

MATERIALS, LLC                                                                                  :

 

ORDER FORSUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING

 

These proceedingsall involve cross-petitions for discretionary review by the Secretary of Labor(“Secretary”), Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC (“Vulcan”), and a miner,Jason Hargis (“Complainant”). On January 9, 2023, the Commission granted allthree petitions for discretionary review. On January 20, 2023, the Commission consolidatedthe cases and set forth a briefing order. Since the filing of the parties’ briefs,however, the Commission has noticed anissue not previously briefed by the parties.

 

The issue involvesthe interaction between two sections of the Mine Act. Specifically, section 105(c)(2)authorizes temporary reinstatement pending “the final order on the complaint”and instructs that the “order shall become final upon *30 days* after[the] issuance” of the decision. 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(2) (emphasis added). 

 

Section 113(d)(1) ofthe Act states that “[t]he decision of the administrative law judge of theCommission shall become the final decision of the Commission *40 days*after its issuance unless within such period the Commission has directed thatsuch decision shall be reviewed by the Commission . . . .” 30 U.S.C. § 823(d)(1)(emphasis added). 

 

Thus, the issue incalculating the final order date for ending temporary reinstatement concernsthe applicability and interaction of the 30-day language in section 105(c)(2)and the 40-day language in section 113(d)(1).

 

As a result, the Commission requests supplemental briefing onthecalculation of a “final order” date for temporary reinstatement purposes givensection 105(c)(2) and section 113(d)(1). The briefs of the parties shall befiled within 14 days of the date of this order and shall not exceed 15 pages inlength.

 

 

 

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

                                                                        MaryLu Jordan, Chair

 

 

 

/s/William I. Althen

                                                                        WilliamI. Althen, Commissioner

 

 

 

/s/ Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr.

Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr., Commissioner

 

 

 

/s/ Timothy J. Baker

Timothy J. Baker, Commissioner

Distribution:

 

EmmaP. Cusumano, Attorney

 

AprilE. Nelson, Associate Solicitor

 

EmilyToler Scott, Counsel for Appellate

LitigationOffice of the Solicitor, U.S. Department

ofLabor Division of Mine Safety & Health

 

20112th Street South, Ste. 401

 

Arlington,VA 22202

 

Cusumano.emma.p@dol.gov

 

Nelson.April@dol.gov

 

scott.emily.t@dol.gov

 

ChristopherM. Smith, Esq.

 

Officeof the Solicitor

 

U.S.Department of Labor

 

618Church Street, Suite 230

 

Nashville,TN 37219

 

smith.christopher.m@dol.gov

 

ElaineM. Youngblood, Esq.

 

OrtaleKelley

 

330Commerce Street, Suite 110

 

Nashville,TN 37201

 

eyoungblood@ortalekelley.com

 

MargaretS. Lopez, Esq.

 

WilliamK. Doran, Esq.

 

Ogletree,Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

 

1901K Street NW, Suite 1000

 

Washington,DC 20006

 

margaret.lopez@ogletree.com

 

william.doran@ogletree.com

 

ChiefAdministrative Law Judge Glynn F. Voisin

Officeof the Chief Administrative Law Judge

FederalMine Safety & Health Review Commission

1331Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 520N

Washington,DC 20004-1710

GVoisin@fmshrc.gov

 

AdministrativeLaw Judge Michael Young 

Officeof the Chief Administrative Law Judge

FederalMine Safety & Health Review Commission

1331Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 520N

Washington,DC 20004-1710

myoung@fmshrc.gov