JAN 15 2020
In The Matter of: Petition for Modification
Nevada Gold Mines, LLC
Goldstrike Mine
ID No. 26-01089 Docket No. M-97-02-M
Docket Number 30 CFR Granted Finalized
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
M-97-02-M 56.6309(b) October 27, 1997 November 20, 1997
M-97-02-M 56.6309(b) December 1, 1998 (Amendment) December 31, 1998
M-97-02-M 56.6309(b) April 10, 2010 (Revocation) May 10, 2010
M-97-02-M 56.6309(b) (Reinstatement of December 1, 1998 Order) December 4, 2011
PROPOSED DECISION AND ORDER TO REVOKE
On October 15, 2019, Nevada Gold Mines, LLC, the current operator of the Nevada Goldstrike Mine (Mine I.D. No. 26-01089), located in Eureka County, Nevada, filed a Petition for Revocation of a previously granted modification of 30 C.F.R. § 56. 6309(b), Fuel Oil Requirements for ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil). The November 4, 2011, granted modification permitted the operator to use waste oil in explosives preparation at the mine. The Petitioner now asserts that it no longer intends to rely on used waste oil to prepare ANFO at the Goldstrike Mine; thus, the modification is no longer needed for compliance with the subject standard.
MSHA's Metal and Nonmetal Western District, having learned that Petitioner was no longer relying on the granted November 4, 2011, modification, even before Petitioner filed its formal petition for revocation, confirmed during an August 27-29, 2019, inspection that the granted modification was no longer in use at the mine. The Western District then made its own written request for revocation of the granted modification on November 14,.2019, affirming that the modification is no longer warranted at the Goldstrike Mine.
Wherefore, pursuant to the authority delegated by the Secretary of Labor to the Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, and pursuant to section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 81l(c), the modification as it applies to the referenced mine is hereby:
REVOKED
Pursuant to 30 C.F.R. § 44.52, revocation of the granted modification will become final 30 days after service of this Proposed Decision and Order to Revoke, unless a hearing is requested on the Decision and Order. Any party to this action desiring a hearing on this matter must file in accordance with 30 C.F.R. § 44.14, within 30 days. The request for hearing must be filed with the Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, 201 12th Street South, Arlington, Virginia 22202-5450.
If a hearing is requested, the request shall contain a concise summary of the position on the issues of fact or law desired to be raised by the party requesting the hearing, including specific objections to the proposed decision. A party other than Petitioner who has requested a hearing shall also comment upon all issues of fact or law presented in the petition, and any pmiy to this action requesting a hearing may indicate a desired hearing site. If no request for a hearing is filed within 30 days after service thereof, the Order to Revoke will become final.
/s/
Timothy R. Watkins
Administrator for
Mine Safety and Health Enforcement
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that a copy of this Proposed Decision and Order to Revoke was served personally or mailed, postage prepaid, this 15th day of January, 2020, to:
Nevada Gold Mines, LLC
Goldstrike Mine
1655 Mountain City Highway
Elko, Nevada 89801
Margaret S. Lopez, Esq.
OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.
Suite 1000
1909 K Street,
NW Washington, D.C. 20006
/s/
Donald R. Vickers
Mine Safety and Health Specialist