Idaho Gravel Mine Refuses Federal Inspection

[The Straight Story]

Idaho Gravel Mine Refuses Federal Inspection

Tuesday, November 09, 2010 The U.S. Department of Labor is taking a mining company to court for preventing a federal inspector from examining a sand and gravel rock-crushing operation near Weippe, Idaho.

Scott Amos, an inspector with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, visited the Rock Solid mine on October 27 to conduct a health and safety inspection. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 authorizes the government to inspect mines and forbids companies from interfering with such duties.

Nevertheless, a company official, Jason Berreth, refused to allow Amos entry onto the Rock Solid mine property, claiming the MSHA first had to present a court order for the inspection. Amos informed Berreth that he was mistaken, but the inspector still was denied access. He then cited Rock Solid for obstructing the inspection and issued a withdrawal order for Berreth to stand aside. He did not.

The company continued to refuse the inspection even after Amos’ supervisor called Phil Berreth, the president of Timber Savers, which owns Rock Solid, to inform him of the government’s authority to inspect the mine.

In filing its complaint, the Labor Department has asked a federal judge to issue an injunction that forces the company to cease all mining operations until it complies with the inspection.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Idaho_Gravel_Mine_Refuses_Federal_Inspection_101109

[opihimoimoi]

1. What the hell are they HIDING???

[Bluzmann57]

2. The owner is in trouble

MSHA certainly does have a right to enter and inspect any mine at any time. Expect a HUGE fine.
And, any miner has the right to file a complaint at any time if he or she feels that there is an unsafe situation. It's right there on the front page of the MSHA website. And the employee is guaranteed anonymity. I work at an MSHA governed place and know a little bit about these things.

[jwirr]

3. I did not even think of that as mining. I worked at a gravel crushing

machine picking soft rocks out of the gravel when I was 10 years old. It was owned by our neighbor and he knew how poor we were so his son and I got the job. I know child labor but at the time I thought it was really great - I had a job!!

[gratuitous]

4. So, what will the penalty be?

Will there even be a penalty for this lawlessness? And really, why should Rock Solid be punished for blowing off an inspection? You have to strip nekkid to board a plane anymore, but the Almighty American Business can't be bothered to follow the law.

[glinda]

5. Prediciton: They received okays from the new "Government". Expect

more of this. Expect them to arm themselves. Expect the EPA to be trashed and laws dismissed that are protections for the planet, animals and people.

[Dyler Turden]

6. I hope this story gets picked up and followed.

The teabagger dream of "no Gov't interference in commerce" is starting to get out of hand.

[leveymg]

7. The company can refuse inspection, but they'll get an administrative penalty of some kind, and go on

the USDOL shit list, along with half a dozen other agencies. Lots of federal inspectors are going to show up in the coming weeks, and lots of agency applications will be refused after a compliance flap like this.

Good luck, Mr. Berreth, and the rest of your companies.