An administrative law judge has approved a settlement between Murray Energy Corp. and the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration resolving 1,753 safety violations at five northern West Virginia mines.  There was an initial assessment of $5.1 million in federal fines.

The settlement calls for Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp. to pay $3.3 million for the violations issued to the mines and their previous owner, CONSOL Energy Inc. of Pittsburgh. 

The order by the administrative law judge with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission settles violations issued to the Blacksville No. 2, Robinson Run No. 95, Shoemaker, Loveridge No. 22 and McElroy Coal mines. Murray Energy purchased the mines in December 2013. The parties also agreed that settled penalty amounts are reasonable given the circumstances surrounding each affected citation/order and take into account the penalty criteria set forth at 30 C.F.R. Part 100 and Section 110(i) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.