Training Grants Total More Than $7.9 Million in Fiscal Year 2007

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today announced the availability of more than $7.9 million in health and safety training grants

"These grants are part of MSHA's ongoing commitment to advance miner safety and health through funding training programs," said Richard E. Stickler, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.

Grantees will use the funds to provide federally mandated training to miners. The grants cover training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines, including miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone and sand and gravel mining operations.

The monetary amount of the grants MSHA is awarding in fiscal year 2007 is the same level as the previous fiscal year, because the federal government currently is operating under a continuing budget resolution from Congress.

Training grant funds will be awarded to every state, except Hawaii, and to the Navajo Nation and Puerto Rico. States apply for the grants, which are administered by state mine inspectors' offices, state departments of labor or state-supported colleges and universities. Each recipient tailors the program to its state miners' individual needs and provides technical assistance. The grants will be given to the states upon receipt and approval of their applications.

The state grant program was authorized by the Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969. States first received funding in 1971 to provide health and safety training to miners.

MSHA's primary mission as a federal agency is to help ensure worker safety and health in the nation's mines.

The following table lists the FY 2007 grants for the states, Puerto Rico and the Navajo Nation.

  Fiscal Year 2007 Mine Rescue and Safety Training Grants

  Alabama                $182,669
  Alaska                  $42,974
  Arizona                $273,314
  Arkansas                $94,504
  California             $322,149
  Colorado               $200,172
  Connecticut             $41,996
  Delaware                 $3,720
  Florida                $155,134
  Georgia                $183,462
  Idaho                   $88,074
  Illinois               $209,250
  Indiana                $177,442



  Iowa                   $108,578
  Kansas                  $76,706
  Kentucky               $597,131
  Louisiana               $76,476
  Maine                   $50,202
  Maryland                $52,702
  Massachusetts           $62,459
  Michigan               $204,990
  Minnesota              $260,538
  Mississippi             $57,948
  Missouri               $192,835
  Montana                $120,373
  Navajo Nation           $25,534
  Nebraska                $63,382
  Nevada                 $220,704
  New Hampshire           $36,909
  New Jersey              $47,527
  New Mexico             $137,983
  New York               $246,292
  North Carolina         $145,685
  North Dakota            $55,696
  Ohio                   $250,076
  Oklahoma                $97,646
  Oregon                  $98,945
  Pennsylvania           $491,564
  Puerto Rico             $50,648
  Rhode Island             $8,927
  South Carolina          $62,630
  South Dakota            $54,487
  Tennessee              $132,131
  Texas                  $397,014
  Utah                   $163,657
  Vermont                 $67,055
  Virginia               $253,990
  Washington             $140,068
  West Virginia          $535,860
  Wisconsin              $175,961
  Wyoming                $176,831

  Total                $7,973,000

U.S. Labor Department releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

CONTACT: Dirk Fillpot, +1-202-693-9406, or Amy Louviere, +1-202-693-9423, both of the U.S. Department of Labor

Web site: http://www.dol.gov/