According to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing late last week, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration said that part of a haul road at the North Surface mine was observed on November 14 to be too steep.

“The order alleged that a portion of the roadway exceeded the maximum grade recommended by the manufacturer of certain rock trucks using the road,” the company said in the documentation.

There were no injuries as result of the cited condition and Alex Energy crews removed the trucks as well as a loader from that portion of the roadway. The order was terminated by MSHA the same day.

Alpha officials did not make any further public comment on the situation.

Imminent danger orders are issued by MSHA under section 107(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, also known as the Mine Act.

Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act, amended last July, now requires disclosure of all imminent danger incidents as part of new reporting requirements regarding mine safety.

Alpha, since the closure of its acquisition of Massey Energy in June, now controls about 5 billion tonnes of reserves in central and northern Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin and is the second largest reserve holder in the nation.

Alpha’s met coal reserve base is now among the world’s largest and highest quality, with assets including about 150 coal mines and 40 preparation facilities.