**FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTHREVIEW COMMISSION**

 

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVELAW JUDGES

1331 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.,N.W., SUITE 520N

WASHINGTON, DC20004-1710

TELEPHONE: 202-434-9900/ FAX: 202-434-9949

 
| SECRETARY  OF LABOR

MINE  SAFETY AND HEALTH        

ADMINISTRATION  (MSHA) on behalf of GEORGE RICE,

                            Complainant 

 

                        v.

 

NALLY  & HAMILTON ENTERPRISES,

                            Respondent                                                                                 |   |   | TEMPORARY  REINSTATEMENT PROCEEDING

 

Docket  No. KENT 2022-0118

MSHA  Case No. BARB-CD-2022-03

 

 

 

Mine:  Meadow Branch Mine

Mine  ID: 15-19890

  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

**ORDER GRANTING MOTION TODISSOLVE ORDER**

**GRANTING TEMPORARYECONOMIC REINSTATEMENT**

** **

 

Before:                        JudgeMcCarthy

 

This matter is before the undersigned on the Secretaryof Labor’s Application for Temporary Reinstatement filed on behalf of miner GeorgeRice pursuant to Section 105(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801, et seq., as amended (“Act”), and 29 C.F.R.§ 2700.45. 

On September 26, 2022, the undersigned issued an AmendedOrder Granting Temporary Reinstatement of Rice. On September 27, 2022, theparties submitted a Joint Motion to Approve Temporary Economic Reinstatement Agreement(“Agreement”). The parties agreed that, “[i]f the Secretary notifies Rice thathe has decided not to prosecute Rice’s case on the merits, Nally & Hamiltonwill file a motion with the presiding ALJ to dissolve this Agreement, and Ricewill not oppose said motion.” Agreement, 2. On September 28, 2022, theundersigned accepted the Agreement and issued an Order modifying the September 26,2022 Order.

On October 14, 2022, the Secretary filed a Noticepursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 2700.45(g) that he was not going to file a DiscriminationComplaint on Rice’s behalf. On October 18, 2022, the Respondent filed a Motionto Dissolve the Order Granting Temporary Economic Reinstatement. 

Federal circuit courts of appeals and Commission judgeshave ruled that, for 105(c) claims such as this one, any “temporaryreinstatement provision ends when the Secretary’s involvement ends” and that“the termination of [a temporary reinstatement] should rest on the Secretary’sdetermination” to not file a Discrimination Complaint. *Vulcan Const. v.FMSHRC*, 700 F.3d 297, 310, 311 (7th Cir. 2012); *see also N. ForkCoal Corp. v. FMSHRC*, 691 F.3d 735, 744 (6th Cir. 2012); *PantherCreek Mining, LLC*, 39 FMSHRC 2001, 2002 (Oct. 2017) (ALJ); *BlackRiver Coal, LLC*, 38 FMSHRC 2869, 2870 (Nov. 2016) (ALJ); *Teck Alaska,Inc.*, 35 FMSHRC 2891, 2893 (Aug. 2013) (ALJ). 

After finding insufficient evidence to pursue aDiscrimination Complaint, the Secretary’s involvement ended. Pursuant to precedentand the Agreement, the September 26, 2022 Amended Order Granting TemporaryReinstatement, as modified by the September 28, 2022 Order, is dissolved.

For the foregoing reasons, the September26, 2022 Order, as modified by the September 28, 2022 Order, is **DISSOLVED**andthe terms of the September 27, 2022 Temporary Economic Reinstatement Agreement are**TERMINATED**. Mr. Rice may elect to file a Discrimination Complaint on hisown behalf with the Commission within 30 days’ notice of the Secretary’sdetermination. 30 U.S.C. 815(c)(3).

 

 

 

 

/s/Thomas P. McCarthy

Thomas P. McCarthy

                                                                        AdministrativeLaw Judge

 

 

Distribution:

ThomasHamilton

Nally& Hamilton Enterprises 

SaltsmanWillett Deton & Hamilton, PSC

212E. Stephen Foster Avenue

Bardstown,KY 40004 

(sth@ky-atty.com) 

 

JosephMattingly 

JOSEPHH. MATTINGLY, PLLC

P.O.Box 678 - 104 West Main Street

Lebanon,KY 40033

(joe@mattinglylawoffices.com) 

 

TonyOppegard

P.O.Box 22446

Lexington,KY 40522

(tonyoppegard@gmail.com) 

 

WesAddington

AppalachianCitizens’ Law Center

317Main Street

Whitesburg,KY 41858

(wes@aclc.org) 

 

 

JenniferM. Tag

Officeof the Solicitor

U.S. Department of Labor

618Church Street, Suite 230

Nashville,TN 37219 

(Tag.Jennifer.M@dol.gov)

 

/vgr