U.S. Department of Labor
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978

MSHA News Release: [09/18/2007]
Contact: Matthew Faraci          Amy Louviere
Phone:    (202) 693-9406   (202) 693-9423
Release Number 07-1428-NAT

MSHA announces new process for collecting civil penalties

ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is implementing several new changes to improve its civil penalty payment process, the agency announced today.

"These are the first of several changes that we are making to streamline our debt collection process," said Jay Mattos, acting director for MSHA's Office of Assessments. "Our goal is to establish a better process that is more user friendly for everyone."

New Mailing Address - Beginning October 1, all payments for civil penalties must be mailed to a new address: U.S. Department of Labor/MSHA, P.O. Box 790390, St. Louis, MO 63179-0390.

Electronic Funds Transfer - Payments that are made by check will be converted into electronic funds transfers (EFTs) and electronically debited to a company's account for the amount of the check. The debit usually will occur within 24 hours and will be shown on the company's regular account statements.

Assessment Statement Delivery - MSHA will deliver monthly assessment billing statements via Federal Express. Federal Express delivery requires a street address. P.O. boxes and drawers may not be used.

MSHA asks that each company ensure its address of record reported on the Legal Identity Report is correct. Addresses of record on file with MSHA can be reviewed on the agency's Web site at www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm. If another address is desired, the Legal Identity Report can be updated by filing a paper copy that can be obtained from the mine's servicing district office or online by accessing www.msha.gov under the Forms/Online section of Quick Links.

Independent contractors must also ensure that their records with MSHA are up-to-date and contain street addresses. Contractors should provide MSHA with the following information: Contractor ID, contractor name, street address, city, state, zip code and phone number. Information can be sent by mail to: Assessment Center, 7 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd., Stegmaier Building, Suite 432, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702; by facsimile to (570) 826-6778, Attn. Robin Salmon; or via e-mail to salmon.robin@dol.gov.

Notices about the new mailing address, EFTs and assessment statement delivery are being included in current assessment invoices or mailed separately to operators and contractors. For additional information on MSHA's new debt collection improvements, please visit www.msha.gov.

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939