30 U.S.C. § 818 | Injunctions

(a)

Civil action by Secretary

(1)

The Secretary may institute a civil action for relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or any other appropriate order in the district court of the United States for the district in which a coal or other mine is located or in which the operator of such mine has his principal office, whenever such operator or his agent—

(A)

violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision issued under this chapter, or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision, including a civil penalty assessment order, that is issued under this chapter,

(B)

interferes with, hinders, or delays the Secretary or his authorized representative, or the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his authorized representative, in carrying out the provisions of this chapter,

(C)

refuses to admit such representatives to the coal or other mine,

(D)

refuses to permit the inspection of the coal or other mine, or the investigation of an accident or occupational disease occurring in, or connected with, such mine,

(E)

refuses to furnish any information or report requested by the Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services in furtherance of the provisions of this chapter, or

(F)

refuses to permit access to, and copying of, such records as the Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines necessary in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

(2)

The Secretary may institute a civil action for relief, including permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or any other appropriate order in the district court of the United States for the district in which the coal or other mine is located or in which the operator of such mine has his principal office whenever the Secretary believes that the operator of a coal or other mine is engaged in a pattern of violation of the mandatory health or safety standards of this chapter, which in the judgment of the Secretary constitutes a continuing hazard to the health or safety of miners.

(b)

Jurisdiction; relief; findings of Commission or Secretary

section 554 of title 5In any action brought under subsection (a), the court shall have jurisdiction to provide such relief as may be appropriate. In the case of an action under subsection (a)(2), the court shall in its order require such assurance or affirmative steps as it deems necessary to assure itself that the protection afforded to miners under this chapter shall be provided by the operator. Temporary restraining orders shall be issued in accordance with rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, except that the time limit in such orders, when issued without notice, shall be seven days from the date of entry. Except as otherwise provided herein, any relief granted by the court to enforce any order under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall continue in effect until the completion or final termination of all proceedings for review of such order under this subchapter, unless prior thereto, the district court granting such relief sets it aside or modifies it. In any action instituted under this section to enforce an order or decision issued by the Commission or the Secretary after a public hearing in accordance with , the findings of the Commission or the Secretary, as the case may be, if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive.

Pub. L. 91–173, title I, § 108Dec. 30, 196983 Stat. 756 Pub. L. 95–164, title II, § 201Nov. 9, 197791 Stat. 1309 Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b)Oct. 17, 197993 Stat. 695 Pub. L. 109–236, § 9June 15, 2006120 Stat. 501(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 91–173Dec. 30, 196983 Stat. 742 section 801 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1)(A), (B), (E), (F), (2) and (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–2362006—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). inserted before comma at end “, or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision, including a civil penalty assessment order, that is issued under this chapter”.

Pub. L. 95–1641977— redesignated existing provisions as subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), added subsec. (a)(2), and in the redesignated provisions inserted references to findings of the Commission, inserted requirement that in actions brought under subsec. (a)(2) the courts require such assurances or affirmative action as they deem necessary to assure that the protections offered by this chapter to the miners be provided by the operator, and struck out provisions relating to the appointment of attorneys by the Secretary to represent him in actions under this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 section 3508(b) of Title 20“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsec. (a)(1)(B), (F) pursuant to which is classified to , Education.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–164Nov. 9, 1977section 307 of Pub. L. 95–164 section 801 of this titleAmendment by effective 120 days after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

Dec. 30, 1969Pub. L. 91–173 section 509 of Pub. L. 91–173 section 801 of this titleSection operative 90 days after , except to the extent an earlier date is specifically provided for in , see , set out as a note under .