The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced the availability of more than US$10.5 million in fiscal year 2022 state grant funding to provide federally mandated training and retraining of miners and mine operators working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines.
Any state in which mining takes place may apply for the grant. MSHA may fund 80% of the programme costs under a state grant, and the state must provide at least 20% of the total programme costs.
The closing date for applications is 25 July 2022. MSHA will award grants on or before 30 September 2022.
MSHA recognises that state training programmes are a key source of mine safety and health training and education for individuals who work or will work at mines. MSHA encourages state training programmes to prioritise training for small mining operations and underserved mines and miners within the mining industry. The agency also emphasises training on miners’ statutory rights provided in the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended.