SAIPAN — The CNMI Department of Labor, working with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, hosted a mine-safety compliance assistance presentation on January 23 at the American Memorial Park Indoor Amphitheater, as MSHA prepares for a Courtesy Compliance Assistance Visit expected to begin sometime in February.
The session was led by Timothy Watkins, MSHA Administrator for Enforcement, and Jarvis Westery, MSHA Assistant District Manager, and drew 32 participants, including quarry and mine operators and local government agencies.
The upcoming February visit will bring MSHA inspectors from Puerto Rico to the CNMI to conduct inspections as part of MSHA’s compliance assistance efforts. Watkins said the goal is education and preparation: “We are not here to scare anyone, but to provide guidance on what to expect with MSHA inspectors and the Compliance Assistance Visit.”
MSHA officials said the Courtesy Compliance Assistance Visit is designed to help operators understand and comply with federal mine safety and health standards, and to identify and correct potential violations without enforcement penalties. The presentation also covered common violations, potential penalties, regulatory requirements, and the need for mine operators to obtain an MSHA Identification Number before operating in the CNMI.
DOL said the presentation is part of MSHA’s broader push to maintain an active presence across U.S. territories, including Guam, American Samoa, and the CNMI, and encouraged mine operators to take full advantage of the upcoming visit.
