Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce $1.25 Million for Mine Safety Training
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced that $1.25 million worth of federal funding will be available for safety and health training grants to help identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines.
The three Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants grew out of the MINER Act which Rockefeller co-authored and which Congress passed in 2006.
“We need to do everything in our power to make mining safer than it is, and advanced training is a good place to start,” said Rockefeller. “This funding is a direct result of the MINER Act, which I’m proud to have helped write, and I strongly encourage West Virginia to apply for this funding. While we have made progress on improving mine safety, our fight is definitely not over. I recently reintroduced my mine safety bill which includes new pieces that address major issues found during the investigations of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. I will continue to fight to make sure that comprehensive mine safety legislation is signed into law and that our miners are healthy and safe.”
“Whether it was as Governor or as Senator, I will always put our miners’ safety first,” Manchin said. “In West Virginia, we have always done the heavy lifting that has built this nation, mining the coal that powers our nation. Unfortunately, we in West Virginia know all too well the dangers that confront our miners every day. That is why the funds for these training programs are a critical part of making sure that every person who gets up to work in a mine in the morning can expect to come home safely to their loved ones at night.”
“Having helped to create this important program to promote mine health and safety training, I know our State has a deep reservoir of experience and ideas that can be used in ensuring the well-being of all miners,” said Rahall. “I will continue to fight to ensure that the Congress does all that it can to keep our miners safe and on the job, and that especially includes efforts to strengthen and improve their health and safety training.”
Grant Information:
The Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants for the Fiscal Year 2012 will be used for training and training materials for mine emergency preparedness and mine emergency prevention for underground mines. Applicants for the grants may be States or nonprofit (private or public) entities. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The deadline to apply for the grants is August 31. Click here for more information and to apply.
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