Judges from the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy evaluate a rescue team during the underground coal mine rescue contest of 2020 in Norton, Virginia. (Photo: MSHA)
Following a five-year review, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced the criteria for certifying coal mine rescue teams will remain in effect, without changes. The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 requires mine operators to certify each year the qualifications of mine rescue teams that provide mine rescue coverage at underground coal mines at all times when miners are underground.
The law requires MSHA to update the certification criteria every five years. Following a review, MSHA determined that no changes are necessary to the existing criteria.
For more information, visit www.msha.gov.
