[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR100]

[Page 686]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 100_CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR PROPOSED ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL 
PENALTIES--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  100.5  Determination of penalty; special assessment.

    (a) MSHA may elect to waive the regular assessment formula (Sec.  
100.3) or the single assessment provision (Sec.  100.4) if the Agency 
determines that conditions surrounding the violation warrant a special 
assessment. Although an effective penalty can generally be derived by 
using the regular assessment formula and the single assessment 
provision, some types of violations may be of such a nature or 
seriousness that it is not possible to determine an appropriate penalty 
under these provisions. Accordingly, the following categories will be 
individually reviewed to determine whether a special assessment is 
appropriate:
    (1) Violations involving fatalities and serious injuries;
    (2) Unwarrantable failure to comply with mandatory health and safety 
standards;
    (3) Operation of a mine in the face of a closure order;
    (4) Failure to permit an authorized representative of the Secretary 
to perform an inspection or investigation;
    (5) Violations for which individuals are personally liable under 
section 110(c) of the Act;
    (6) Violations involving an imminent danger;
    (7) Discrimination violations under section 105(c) of the Act; and
    (8) Violations involving an extraordinarily high degree of 
negligence or gravity or other unique aggravating circumstances.
    (b) When MSHA determines that a special assessment is appropriate, 
such special assessment shall take into account the criteria enumerated 
in Sec.  100.3(a) and Sec.  100.4(b). All findings shall be in narrative 
form.
    (c) Any operator who fails to correct a violation for which a 
citation has been issued under section 104(a) of the Mine Act within the 
period permitted for its correction may be assessed a civil penalty of 
not more than $6,500 for each day during which such failure or violation 
continues.
    (d) Any miner who willfully violates the mandatory safety standards 
relating to smoking or the carrying of smoking materials, matches, or 
lighters shall be subject to a civil penalty which shall not be more 
than $275 for each occurrence of such violation.

[47 FR 22294, May 21, 1992, as amended at 57 FR 60697, Dec. 21, 1992; 63 
FR 20035, Apr. 22, 1998; 68 FR 6613, Feb. 10, 2003]