Higgins, Comer Investigate Potential Regulatory Overreach at Morton’s Salt Mine

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) delivered a letter to Assistant Secretary of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Christopher Williamson, raising concerns about MSHA’s issuance of a pattern of violations notice at Morton’s Salt Inc.’s Weeks Island and Mine in New Iberia, Louisiana.

“Upon identifying a pattern of violations, MSHA’s standard procedure includes notifying the mine operator and providing it with the opportunity to implement a Corrective Action Program (CAP). Morton Salt proactively engaged with MSHA to implement corrective measures as early as May 2022, even before submitting a CAP to MSHA for its approval in June of 2022,” wrote the lawmakers.

“The International Chemical Workers Union Council of the UFCW, the union at Weeks Island, noted significant improvements and urged MSHA to allow the CAP to be fully implemented. However, MSHA did not follow its own regulations, ignored mitigating circumstances, and prematurely issued a POV notice, which Congress authorized MSHA to use only as a ‘last resort.’ MSHA’s actions and forthcoming decisions will have profound implications for Morton Salt and the livelihood of its employees.”

Read the full letter here.