Alliance Holdings GP (AHGP) 10-K 2011 FY Annual report

EXHIBIT 95.1

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act Information

Workplace safety is fundamental to the ARLP Partnership’s culture. The ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries empower their employees to be actively involved in continuous efforts to prevent accidents. By providing a work environment that rewards safety and encourages employee participation in the safety process, the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations strive to be the leaders in safety performance in its industry.

The ARLP Partnership is also a leader in developing and implementing new technologies to improve safety throughout the industry. For example, the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary Matrix Design has developed two innovative technologies designed to improve safety in underground mining operations - a portable, wireless communication and electronic tracking system designed to allow surface personnel the ability to communicate with and locate underground mining personnel and a proximity detection system designed to improve the safety of continuous mining units used in underground operations. Matrix Design has completed installation of its communication and tracking system at all of the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries and has either installed or received orders to install this vital safety system at over half of the operating underground coal mines in the U.S. In addition, Matrix Design has installed and is conducting field tests on thirty-nine of its proximity detection systems at eight of the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries’ underground coal mines.

The ARLP Partnership’s industry is focused on improving employee safety and its safety performance is continuously monitored, including through the mining industry standard of “non-fatal days lost”, or “NFDL”, which reflects both the frequency and severity of injuries incurred and, it believes, is a better measure of safety performance than compliance statistics. As indicated in the chart below, these efforts have resulted in significant safety improvements as the industry average NFDL, as reported^(a) by MSHA, has decreased approximately 62% since 1998.

(a) Data compiled for all U.S. underground bituminous coal mines and related surface facilities from the MSHA report “Mine Injury and Worktime, Quarterly Closeout Edition.” Data for 1998 through 2010 reflects the “January – December, Final” report for each year. Data for 2011 reflects the “January – December, Preliminary” report.

During this same time period, the combined NFDL rating of the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries has averaged approximately one-third better than the industry average.

The ARLP Partnership’s mining operations are subject to extensive and stringent compliance standards established pursuant to the FMSHA, as amended by the MINER Act (as amended, the “Mine Act”). MSHA monitors and rigorously enforces compliance with these standards, and the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations are inspected frequently. Citations and orders are issued by MSHA under Section 104 of the Mine Act for violations of the Mine Act or any mandatory health or safety standard, rule, order or regulation promulgated under the Mine Act. A Section 104(a) “Significant and Substantial” or “S&S” citation is generally issued in a situation where the conditions created by the violation do not cause imminent danger, but could significantly and substantially contribute to the cause and effect of a mine safety or health hazard. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s mines were subject to 6,510 MSHA inspection days with an average of only 0.21 S&S citations written per inspection day.

The ARLP Partnership endeavors to comply at all times with all Mine Act regulations. However, the Mine Act has been construed as authorizing MSHA to issue citations and orders pursuant to the legal doctrine of strict liability, or liability without fault. If, in the opinion of an MSHA inspector, a condition exists that violates the Mine Act or regulations promulgated thereunder, then a citation or order will be issued regardless of whether the ARLP Partnership had any knowledge of, or fault in, the existence of that condition. Many of the Mine Act standards include one or more subjective elements, so that issuance of a citation often depends on the opinions or experience of the MSHA inspector involved and the frequency of citations will vary from inspector to inspector.

The number of citations issued also is affected by the size of the mine, in that the number of citations issued generally increases with the size of the mine. The ARLP Partnership’s mines typically are larger in scale than most underground coal mines in the U.S. in terms of area, production and employee hours.

The ARLP Partnership takes all allegations of violations of Mine Act standards seriously, and if it disagrees with the assertions of an MSHA inspector, the ARLP Partnership exercises its right to challenge those findings by “contesting” the citation or order pursuant to the procedures established by the Mine Act and its regulations. During 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries have contested approximately 25% of all citations and the majority of S&S citations issued by MSHA inspectors. These contest proceedings frequently result in the dismissal or modification of previously issued citations, substantial reductions in the penalty amounts originally assessed by MSHA, or both.

The Dodd—Frank Act requires issuers to include in periodic reports filed with the SEC certain information relating to citations or orders for violations of standards under the Mine Act. The following tables include information required by the Dodd—Frank Act for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011. The mine data retrieval system maintained by MSHA may show information that is different than what is provided herein. Any such difference may be attributed to the need to update that information on MSHA’s system and/or other factors.

EXHIBIT 95.1

Subsidiary Name / MSHA Identification Number(1)	Section 104(a) S&S Citations(2)		Section 104(b) Orders (3)			Section 104(d) Citations and Orders(4)		Section 110(b)(2) Violations (5)		Section 107(a) Orders (6)		Total Dollar Value of MSHA Assessments Proposed (in thousands)(7)
Illinois Basin Operations
Webster County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502132		260		—			—		—		1	$	826.7
Warrior Coal, LLC (KY)
1505230		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1512083		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1513514		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1516460		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1517216		205		1			2				1	$	470.7
1517232		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1517678		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1517740		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1517758		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1514335		3		—			—		—		—	$	3.9
Hopkins County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502013		2		—			—		—		—	$	1.2
1511935		—		—			—		—		—	$	0.1
1517377		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1517515		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1518826		80		—			4		—		—	$	207.0
1517378		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
River View Coal, LLC (KY)
1503178		5		—			—		—		—	$	1.5
1519374		140		—			4		—		—	$	144.5
White County Coal, LLC (IL)
1102662		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1103058		114		—			5		—		2	$	588.6
Gibson County Coal, LLC (IN)
1202388		—		—			—		—		—	$	0.1
1202215		107		—			—		—		1	$	454.3
Sebree Mining, LLC
1519264		—		—	��		—		—		—	$	—
Central Appalachian Operations
Pontiki Coal, LLC (KY)
1508413		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1509571		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1514324		6		—			—		—		—	$	1.4
1518839		156		—			7		—		2	$	665.5
1518056		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
MC Mining, LLC (KY)
1508079		130		—			4		—		—	$	411.9
1517733		9		—			—		—		—	$	6.2
1519515		—		—			—		—		—	$	0.4
Northern Appalachian Operations
Mettiki Coal, LLC (MD)
1800621		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
1800671		6		—			—		—		—	$	1.8
Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC
4609028		64		1			2		—		—	$	171.3
Tunnel Ridge, LLC (PA/WV)
4608864		56		—			4		—		—	$	49.9
Other
4403236		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
4403255		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
4406630		—		—			—		—		—	$	—
4406867		—		—			—		—		—	$	—

Subsidiary Name / MSHA Identification Number(1)	Total Number of Mining Related Fatalities		Received Notice of Pattern of Violations Under Section 104(e) (yes/no) (8)		Received Notice of Potential to Have Pattern Under Section 104(e) (yes/no) (8)		Legal Actions Pending as of Last Day of Period		Legal Actions Initiated During Period		Legal Actions Resolved During Period
Illinois Basin Operations
Webster County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502132		—		No		No		28		22		31
Warrior Coal, LLC (KY)
1505230		—		No		No		—		—		—
1512083		—		No		No		—		—		—
1513514		—		No		No		—		—		—
1516460		—		No		No		—		—		—
1517216		—		No		No		30		27		18
1517232		—		No		No		3		—		—
1517678		—		No		No		—		—		—
1517740		—		No		No		—		—		—
1517758		—		No		No		—		—		—
1514335		—		No		No		3		—		2
Hopkins County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502013		—		No		No		2		3		5
1511935		—		No		No		—		—		1
1517377		—		No		No		—		—		—
1517515		—		No		No		—		—		—
1518826		—		No		No		20		16		26
1517378		—		No		No		—		—		—
River View Coal, LLC (KY)
1503178		—		No		No		2		1		2
1519374		—		No		No		22		16		9
White County Coal, LLC (IL)
1102662		—		No		No		—		—		—
1103058		—		No		No		38		22		14
Gibson County Coal, LLC (IN)
1202388		—		No		No		—		—		—
1202215		—		No		No		20		23		22
Sebree Mining, LLC
1519264		—		No		No		—		—		—
Central Appalachian Operations
Pontiki Coal, LLC (KY)
1508413		—		No		No		—		—		—
1509571		—		No		No		2		—		7
1514324		—		No		No		2		2		1
1518839		—		No		No		29		20		15
1519515		—		No		No		—		—		—
1518056		—		No		No		—		—		—
MC Mining, LLC (KY)
1508079		—		No		No		33		12		9
1517733		—		No		No		—		—		—
Northern Appalachian Operations
Mettiki Coal, LLC (MD)
1800621		—		No		No		—		—		—
1800671		—		No		No		1		1		—
Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC
4609028		—		No		No		8		13		10
Tunnel Ridge, LLC (PA/WV)
4608864		—		No		No		—		—		—
Other
4403236		—		No		No		—		—		—
4403255		—		No		No		—		—		—
4406630		—		No		No		—		—		—
4406867		—		No		No		—		—		—

The number of legal actions pending as of December 31, 2011 that fall into each of the following categories is as follows:

Subsidiary Name / MSHA Identification Number(1)	Contests of Citations and Orders		Contests of Proposed Penalties		Complaints for Compensation		Complaints of Discharge/ Discrimination/ Interference		Applications for Temporary Relief		Appeals of Judges Rulings
Illinois Basin Operations
Webster County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502132		5		23		—		—		—		3
Warrior Coal, LLC (KY)
1505230		—		—		—		—		—		—
1512083		—		—		—		—		—		—
1513514		—		—		—		—		—		—
1516460		—		—		—		—		—		—
1517216		7		23		—		—		—		—
1517232		—		3		—		—		—		—
1517678		—		—		—		—		—		—
1517740		—		—		—		—		—		—
1517758		—		—		—		—		—		—
1514335		1		2		—		—		—		—
Hopkins County Coal, LLC (KY)
1502013		—		2		—		—		—		—
1511935		—		—		—		—		—		—
1517377		—		—		—		—		—		—
1517515		—		—		—		—		—		—
1518826		4		16		—		—		—		—
1517378		—		—		—		—		—		—
River View Coal, LLC (KY)
1503178		—		2		—		—		—		—
1519374		9		13		—		—		—		—
White County Coal, LLC (IL)
1102662		—		—		—		—		—		—
1103058		—		38		—		—		—		—
Gibson County Coal, LLC (IN)
1202388		—		—		—		—		—		—
1202215		2		18		—		—		—		—
Sebree Mining, LLC
1519264		—		—		—		—		—		—
Central Appalachian Operations
Pontiki Coal, LLC (KY)
1508413		—		—		—		—		—		—
1509571		—		2		—		—		—		—
1514324		—		2		—		—		—		—
1518839		6		23		—		—		6		—
1519515		—		—		—		—		—		—
1518056		—		—		—		—		—		—
MC Mining, LLC (KY)
1508079		3		30		—		—		—		—
1517733		—		—		—		—		—		—
Northern Appalachian Operations
Mettiki Coal, LLC (MD)
1800621		—		—		—		—		—		—
1800671		—		1		—		—		—		—
Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC
4609028		—		8		—		—		—		—
Tunnel Ridge, LLC (PA/WV)
4608864		—		—		—		—		—		—
Other
4403236		—		—		—		—		—		—
4403255		—		—		—		—		—		—
4406630		—		—		—		—		—		—
4406867		—		—		—		—		—		—

(1) The statistics reported for each of the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiaries listed above are segregated into specific MSHA identification numbers.

(2) Mine Act section 104(a) S&S citations shown above are for alleged violations of mandatory health or safety standards that could significantly and substantially contribute to a coal mine health and safety hazard. It should be noted that, for purposes of this table, S&S citations that are included in another column, such as Section 104(d) citations, are not also included as Section 104(a) S&S citations in this column.

(3) Mine Act section 104(b) orders are for alleged failures to totally abate a citation within the period of time specified in the citation.

(4) Mine Act section 104(d) citations and orders are for an alleged unwarrantable failure (i.e. aggravated conduct constituting more than ordinary negligence) to comply with mandatory health or safety standards.

(5) Mine Act section 110(b)(2) violations are for failure to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory safety or health standard that substantially proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury.

(6) Mine Act section 107(a) orders are for alleged conditions or practices which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before such condition or practice can be abated and result in orders of immediate withdrawal from the area of the mine affected by the condition.

(7) Amounts shown include assessments proposed by MSHA during the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 on all citations and orders, including those citations and orders that are not required to be included within the above chart.

(8) Mine Act section 104(e) written notices are for an alleged pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards that could significantly and substantially contribute to a coal mine safety or health hazard, or the potential to have such a pattern.