Mine Safety and Health Administration cites Dos Republicas’ Eagle Pass Mine for violations
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
A review by the Eagle Pass Business Journal of the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) found that Camino Real Fuels LLC, the operator of the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine in Maverick County was cited for five different Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) violations during an inspection from MSHA representatives during the month of February 2016.
During two inspection days, that is, on February 19 and 22, 2016 , MSHA found that Camino Real Fuels LLC and Ozuna Contractors LLC, a company/subcontractor working for Dos Republicas were not in compliance on five different issues and occasions .
On February 19, 2016, Camino Real Fuels LLC was cited on two different occasions for non-compliance/violation of MSHA Safety Code ,77.1606 pertaining to the loading and haulage equipment; inspection and maintenance.(a) Mobile loading and haulage equipment shall be inspected by a competent person before such equipment is placed in operation. Equipment defects affecting safety shall be recorded and reported to the mine operator.
Camino Real Fuels LLC was also cited for violation of MSHA Code 77.1606 (c) Equipment defects affecting safety shall be corrected before the equipment is used.
During the same day, February 22, 2016, Camino Real Fuels LLC was also cited for non-compliance/violation of the MSHA Code 77.404 Machinery and equipment; operation and maintenance.(a) Mobile and stationary machinery and equipment shall be maintained in safe operating condition and machinery or equipment in unsafe condition shall be removed from service immediately.
Camino Real Fuels LLC was also cited for non-compliance/ violation of the MSHA Code 77.502-2 pertaining to Electric equipment; frequency of examination and testing. The examinations and tests required under the provision of this §77.502 shall be conducted at least monthly.
Camino Real Fuels LLC is listed as the operator of the Eagle Pass Mine, working for Dos Republicas Coal Partnership. Camino Real Fuels LLC is a Nevada limited liability company incorporated as a subsidiary of North American Coal. It is common practice large coal companies to use subsidiaries or other related companies to avoid liability against the parent company in the event of any major accidents or contamination issues.
Ozuna Contractors LLC was cited twice on February 22, 2016 for non-compliance /violations of the MSHA Code, specifically 77.1606 (a) Mobile loading and haulage equipment shall be inspected by a competent person before such equipment is placed in operation. Equipment defects affecting safety shall be recorded and reported to the mine operator. Ozuna Contractors LLC. was also cited for violation of MSHA Code 77,1110 Examination and maintenance of firefighting equipment.
Firefighting equipment shall be continuously maintained in a usable and operative condition. Fire extinguishers shall be examined at least once every 6 months and the date of such examination shall be recorded on a permanent tag attached to the extinguisher , MSHA Code states.
Since November 11, 2014, the Eagle Pass Mine and companies working for the company Dos Republicas Coal Partnership and under Camino Real Fuels LLC as operator of the open surface coal mine on the banks of Elm Creek, a direct water tributary of the Rio Grande River, have been cited 36 times for Mine Safety and Health Administration Code violations by federal government inspectors.
To date, at least five employees working in the Eagle Pass Mine have suffered some type of injury from an on the job accidents, including the most recent accident claim from an employee who claimed hearing loss from working at the open surface coal mine in Eagle Pass, Texas.
On February 2, 2016, an employee for a company working for Dos Republicas Coal Partnership filed an accident claim stating that working in the mine site had cause hearing loss to his person.
The lack of precaution and following of safety measures set by MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR may put employee lives in danger.
A complete description of these violations can be found at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=49ad350415a87cfd794408e60b85fd44&mc=true&node=pt30.1.77&rgn=div5.
.A brief review of the U.S. Mine and Health Safety Administration records clearly found safety violations at the Dos Republicas’ Eagle Pass Mine during February 20, 2014 through August 25, 2015 and most recently during February 2016.
These safety violations raise safety concerns with local citizens and governmental entities regarding the safe and clean operation of the open surface coal mine in Eagle Pass, Texas. These safety violations indicate that coal mining is a dangerous industry with the potential to cause serious bodily injury to workers and the community. If these safety violations are indicative of future safety violations at Dos Republicas’ Eagle Pass Mine, the public representations of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s representatives to local public governmental entities and private businesses regarding the clean and outstanding safety record and environmental awards earned by North American Coal Corporation are disingenuous and lack credibility. None of these MSHA safety violations during February 20, 2014 through August 25, 2015 and most recently during February , 2016 have been disclosed by Dos Republicas Coal Partnership representatives to Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas governmental entities, community members, and press.
