**FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION**

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

**WASHINGTON, DC 20004-1710**

 

 

SECRETARY OF LABOR                              : 

 MINE SAFETY ANDHEALTH                     :

 ADMINISTRATION(MSHA)                        :

                                                                          :

                        v.                                               :        Docket No. CENT2023-0120

                                                                          :

MORTONSALT,INC.                                     :

 

 

BEFORE: Jordan, Chair; Althen, Rajkovich, and Baker, Commissioners

 

**ORDER**

 

 BY THE COMMISSION:

 

            Thismatter arises under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (2018). OnDecember 18, 2023, a Commission Administrative Law Judge issued an order grantingthe Secretary’s motion for certification for interlocutory review and denying hermotion to cancel the hearing scheduled for January 9-11, 2024.

 

Commission Procedural Rule 76(a) provides that interlocutoryreview is a matter of sound discretion of the Commission, and that theCommission may grant interlocutory review upon a determination that the Judge’sinterlocutory ruling involves a controlling question of law and immediatereview will materially advance the final disposition of the proceeding. 29C.F.R. § 2700.76(a).

 

Uponconsideration by the Commission, the Judge’s December 18, 2023, certificationfor interlocutory review is accepted. The Commission hereby grantsinterlocutory review of the following issue: whether the Commission hasauthority to review the Secretary’s decision to issue a notice of pattern ofviolations. The hearing scheduled for January 9-11, 2024, is hereby suspendedpending further order by the Commission. Both parties shall file opening briefswith the Commission within 20 days of the date of this order, and responsebriefs shall be filed within 10 days after service of the opening briefs.

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mary Lu Jordan

Mary Lu Jordan, Chair

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                /s/William I. Althen

                                                                                    WilliamI. Althen, Commissioner

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marco M. Rajkovich,Jr.

Marco M. Rajkovich, Jr., Commissioner

 

 

 

 

/s/ Timothy J.Baker

Timothy J. Baker, Commissioner

 

 

Distribution: 

LaceeCaitlyn Eakins, Esq.

U.S.Department of Labor

Officeof the Solicitor

525 S.Griffin Street, Suite 501

Dallas,TX 75202

eakins.lacee.c@dol.gov

 

W.Tyler Nash, Esq.

U.S.Department of Labor

Officeof the Solicitor

525 S.Griffin Street, Suite 501

Dallas,TX 75202

nash.williams.t@dol.gov

 

DonnaVetrano Pryor, Esq.

HuschBlackwell LLP

1801Wewatta Street, Suite 1000

Denver,CO 80202

donna.pryor@huschblackwell.com

 

R.Brian Hendrix, Esq.

HuschBlackwell LLP

1801Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Suite1000, Washington, DC 20006

brian.hendrix@huschblackwell.com

 

AprilNelson, Esq.

AssociateSolicitor

Officeof the Solicitor

U.S.Department of Labor

Divisionof Mine Safety and Health

20112th Street South, Suite 401

Arlington,VA 22202

Nelson.April@dol.gov

 

EmilyToler Scott, Esq.

Counselfor Appellate Litigation

Officeof the Solicitor

U.S.Department of Labor

Divisionof Mine Safety and Health

20112th Street South, Suite 401

Arlington,VA 22202

scott.emily.t@dol.gov

 

MelanieGarris USDOL/MSHA, OAASEI/CPCO 201 12th Street South, Suite 401Arlington, VA 22202Garris.Melanie@DOL.GOV

 

Administrative LawJudge David P. SimontonFederal Mine Safety Health Review Commission 721 19th Street, Suite 443Denver, CO 80202-2500DSimonton@fmshrc.gov

 

ChiefAdministrative Law Judge Glynn F. VoisinFederal Mine Safety Health Review Commission

Officeof the Chief Administrative Law Judge 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 520NWashington, DC 20004-1710GVoisin@fmshrc.gov