Federal enforcement officers issued 157 citations, one order and two safeguards during the special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in March.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) says the inspections were conducted in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Monthly impact inspections began in force in April 2010 at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. Since then, MSHA inspectors have conducted 1,129 impact inspections and issued 16,136 citations, 1,310 orders and 60 safeguards.