Mike Sumpter v. Secretary of Labor, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

MARTIN, Circuit Judge:

In this appeal, we must decide whether the word “corporation” includes limited liability companies (LLCs) for purposes of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. (the Mine Act). The Mine Act was enacted “to provide more effective means and measures for improving the working conditions and practices in the Nation’s coal or other mines in order to prevent death and serious physical harm.” 30 U.S.C. § 801(c). To encourage compliance with the Act, § 110(c) provides that “[wjhenever a corporate operator violates a mandatory health or safety…