The US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted a default judgment against D&C Mining Corp, affirming the MSHA’s 2012 complaint on the Harlan County mine.

The complaint alleged that D&C Mining owed $1.67 million in civil penalties for 1244 violations cited in 2006-2012.

MSHA issued the penalties after numerous inspections and 10 special safety blitzes over the past two years — the most against any mine in the US.

MSHA chief Joseph Main said it continuously worked with the Department of Justice to pursue mine operators who blatantly refused to pay their penalties while continuing to operate.

“Not only has this mine operator repeatedly disregarded health and safety standards and put its miners at tremendous risk, it has flouted any attempt by the federal government to collect penalties for violations that have been assessed,” Main said in a statement.

The judgement orders D&C to post an appropriate bond with MSHA to guarantee the company will comply with federal mine safety laws. The company is also barred from moving or selling equipment at the mine site.

The MSHA classifies the mine as ‘non-producing’ and lists past roof control violations, mine ventilation problems, electrical dangers, failure to test methane gas detectors, accumulation of excess coal dust and an explosion hazard among other things.

In June 2009, miner Wilson “Rome” Meade was crushed to death at the mine.