Virginia Agency Receives $269K in Mine Safety Funding

Virginia is receiving nearly $269,000 in health and safety training grants from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The funding is part of $8.3 million in grants for 47 states and the Navajo Nation in fiscal year 2014. The state funds are being given to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy in Big Stone Gap.

Officials say grantees will use the funds to provide federally mandated training and retraining to miners. Some states use these grants to support their mine emergency response efforts and other functions.

MSHA chief Joe Main says the grants will enable miners to better prepare and arm them with the proper knowledge to avoid accidents and injuries.