US Department of Labor awards more than $10.5M in grants to support mine safety, health training across the nation

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses by supporting programs such as safety and health courses. The agency is awarding the grants to support the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, as well as miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations. MSHA is awarding grants in 43 states and the Navajo Nation, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.“Training is a critical element in protecting the safety and health of our nation’s miners,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Christopher J. Williamson. “Deficiencies in miner training continue to be a root cause of fatal accidents. These grants fund programs and training designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.”States and territories apply for grant funding, which is administered by state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor and state-supported colleges and universities. Recipients tailor their training programs to address their area’s mining conditions and hazards miners may encounter.Learn more about MSHA.The recipients of MSHA State Grants are as follows: RecipientCityState/TerritoryAwardBevill State Community College SumitonAL $237,493University of Alaska at FairbanksSoldotnaAK $150,483 Arizona State Mine Inspector’s OfficePhoenixAZ $426,502 Arkansas Department of Labor and LicensingLittle Rock AR $132,754 Navajo Nation Minerals DepartmentWindow RockAZ $36,112 California Department of Industrial RelationsSan BernardinoCA $120,000 Colorado Department of Natural ResourcesDenverCO $262,207 Central Connecticut State UniversityNew BritainCT $93,048 Tallahassee Community CollegeHavanaFL $195,297 Technical College System of GeorgiaSandersvilleGA $217,888 Guam Department of Public Health & Social ServicesHagatnaGU $14,444 North Idaho CollegePost FallsID $164,011 Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenportIA $196,798 Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesSpringfieldIL $257,665 Vincennes UniversityFt. BranchIN $255,619 Hutchinson Community College & Area Vocational SchoolHutchinsonKS $137,664 Kentucky Energy & Environment CabinetFrankfortKY $357,679 Northshore Technical Community CollegeGreensburgLA $114,225 Maine Department of LaborAugustaME $117,104 Maryland Center for Environmental Training La PlataMD $72,041 Massachusetts Department of Labor StandardsBostonMA $106,937 Michigan Technological UniversityHoughtonMI $271,534 Minnesota State Colleges & UniversitiesSt PaulMN $401,078 Mississippi Department of Environmental QualityJacksonMS $28,778 Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial RelationsJefferson CityMO $289,315 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsSaipanMP $14,444 Montana Department of Labor & IndustryHelenaMT $215,678 University of Nebraska at KearneyKearneyNE $94,479 Nevada Division of Industrial RelationsCarson CityNV $421,064 New Hampshire Department of Business & Economic AffairsConcordNH $83,104 New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentTrentonNJ $69,991 New Mexico Institute of Mining & TechnologySocorroNM $182,800 New York Department of LaborAlbany NY $345,816 North Carolina Department of LaborRaleighNC $188,630 North Dakota Department of Career & Technical EducationBismarckND $115,753Ohio Department of Natural Resources ColumbusOH $244,051 Oklahoma Department of MinesWilburtonOK $184,414 Eastern Oregon UniversityLa Grande OR $174,956 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionNew StantonPA $590,454 Tri-County Technical CollegePendletonSC $100,792 South Dakota School of Mines & TechnologyRapid CitySD $100,237 Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentCaryvilleTN $209,761 University of Texas at AustinAustinTX $726,741 Utah State UniversityPriceUT $267,579 Vermont Department of LaborMontpelierVT $114,616 Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & EnergyBig Stone GapVA$246,818 West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety & TrainingCharlestonWV $516,841 Northcentral Technical College DistrictWausauWI $364,830 Gillette Community College DistrictGilletteWY $306,475 Total  $10,537,000