Opinion ID: 757252
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Blattner as a Production-Operator

Text: 21 Blattner contends that even if independent contractors may qualify as production-operators under § 41.1(a), it was not a production-operator at the three mines. Its argument consists of two steps. First, Blattner asserts that there can be only one production-operator at a given site. Second, it maintains that because it was not ultimately responsible for exploration, planning, engineering, delineation of ore bodies, and oversight of the mine[s], it was not the production-operator. We reject Blattner's arguments. 22 First, nothing in the Act, regulations, or the guidelines suggests that there can be only one production-operator at a mine. In fact, all courts to address the issue have held that there can be more than one statutory operator at a given mine. See International Union, UMWA v. FMSHRC, 840 F.2d 77, 82 (D.C.Cir.1988) (holding that it is absolutely clear that Congress was aware that there could be more than one 'operator' of a single mine); Bituminous Coal Operators' Ass'n, 547 F.2d at 246 (same). Blattner offers no reason why there cannot also be more than one producer-operator under the regulations. Indeed, the legal identity report regulation itself requires [e]ach operator, not the operator, to file such a report. 30 C.F.R. § 41.20. This language strongly supports the view that mines may have multiple operators. It also most effectively furthers the objective of the legal identity requirement; that is, it allows the MSHA to obtain necessary information regarding all entities who maintain significant control over the health and safety conditions at mines. 23 Second, the Commission's factual findings must be upheld if they are supported by substantial evidence, 30 U.S.C. § 816; Alderman v. SEC, 104 F.3d 285, 288 (9th Cir.1997), and there is little doubt that substantial evidence supports the Commission's finding that Blattner operate[d], controlle[d], or supervise[d] the mines within the meaning of 30 C.F.R. § 41.1(a). At all three mines, Blattner was in charge of mining in the pit and, in doing so, was directly responsible for supervising the health and safety conditions in the processes of drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and dumping the ore and waste material. At all three mines, Blattner used and maintained its own equipment and supervised, trained and directed its employees and subcontractors in the pit areas. Blattner was also the only entity that was continuously present at the mine pits. Thus, although it received directions from the owners about where to mine and which material to keep and to process, Blattner clearly exercised sufficient control over the day-to-day working conditions at the mine to warrant the conclusion that it was operating, controlling, or supervising the mines.