[United States Government Manual] [June 02, 1998] [Pages 555-557] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION 1730 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006-3867 Phone, 202-653-5625 Chairman Mary Lu Jordan Commissioners Robert H. Beatty, Jr., Mark L. Marks, James C. Riley, Theodore F. Verheggen Chief Administrative Law Judge Paul Merlin General Counsel Norman M. Gleichman Executive Director Richard L. Baker ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial agency established by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The act, enforced by the Secretary of Labor through the Mine Safety and Health Administration, governs compliance with occupational safety and health standards in the Nation's surface and underground coal, metal, and nonmetal mines. The Commission consists of five members who are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and who serve staggered, 6-year terms. The Chairman is selected from among the Commissioners. The Commission and its Office of Administrative Law Judges are charged with deciding cases brought pursuant to the act by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, mine operators, and miners or their representatives. These cases generally involve review of the Administration's enforcement actions including citations, mine closure orders, and proposals for civil penalties issued for violations of the act or the mandatory safety and health standards promulgated by the Secretary of Labor. The Commission also has jurisdiction over [[Page 556]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T177653.044 [[Page 557]] discrimination complaints filed by miners or their representatives in connection with their safety and health rights under the act, and over complaints for compensation filed on behalf of miners idled as a result of mine closure orders issued by the Administration. Activities Cases brought before the Commission are assigned to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, and hearings are conducted pursuant to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 554, 556) and the Commission's procedural rules (29 CFR Part 2700). A judge's decision becomes a final but nonprecedential order of the Commission 40 days after issuance unless the Commission has directed the case for review in response to a petition or on its own motion. If a review is conducted, a decision of the Commission becomes final 30 days after issuance unless a party adversely affected seeks review in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or the Circuit within which the mine subject to the litigation is located. As far as practicable, hearings are held at locations convenient to the affected mines. The Office of Administrative Law Judges has two offices: the Falls Church Office, 2 Skyline, 5203 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041; and the Denver Office, Colonnade Center, Room 280, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Denver, CO 80204. Sources of Information Commission decisions are published monthly and are available through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Requests for Commission records should be submitted in accordance with the Commission's Freedom of Information Act regulations. Other information, including Commission rules of procedure and brochures explaining the Commission's functions, is available from the Executive Director, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, Sixth Floor, 1730 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006-3867. E-mail, info@fmshrc.gov. For further information, contact the Executive Director, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, Sixth Floor, 1730 K Street NW., Washington DC 20006-3867. Phone, 202-653-5625. Fax, 202-653-5030. E- mail, info@fmshrc.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------