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Oct
9
Written by:
news editor
10/9/2008 1:00 AM
10/09/08 ODNR Director Sean Logan today announced the addition of a mine safety rescue station and the repositioning of two others.
ODNR DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES CHANGES
TO IMPROVE MINING SAFETY
CADIZ, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Sean Logan today announced the addition of a mine safety rescue station and the repositioning of two others. The changes are the result of a recently enacted federal mandate that requires mine rescue stations be located no more than one hour ground travel time from a mine.
Adding to Ohio's three mine safety rescue stations, the ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management will construct a fourth rescue station in Salem. It will move the New Philadelphia station to Cadiz and reposition the Shadyside station, moving it to Barnesville. The announcement came during the 1st Annual Ohio Mine Safety Competition on October 9 at the Sally Buffalo Park in Cadiz.
"ODNR makes mining safety a top priority," said ODNR Director Sean Logan, during the event. "The changes announced today and the training competition that is being held are ways that we can provide valuable service to Ohio miners and continue to strengthen Ohio's mining industry."
The 1st Annual Ohio Mine Safety Competition was a day-long event coordinated by the Ohio Division of Mineral Resources Management to evaluate Ohio mine rescue teams' abilities to assess emergency situations and use problem-solving skills that could save lives during an actual mine emergency. Teams were assigned the same emergency problem and were evaluated by state and federal mine inspectors on their procedures and speed. Two courses ran simultaneously and teams were sequestered until it was their turn to compete.
Participating rescue teams represented Ohio Valley Coal - Powhatan No. 6 Mine - Alledonia; American Energy Corporation - Century Mine - Beallsville; Buckingham Coal Company - Glouster; Hopedale Mining - Cadiz; Mountain Spring Coal Company - Hammondsville; Rosebud Mining Company (Tusky Mine) - Tuscarawas County; and Sterling Mining Corporation Sterling Mine - North Lima.
ODNR partnered with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pennsylvania Bureau of Deep Mine Safety and West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training to stage the event.
The Ohio Mine Safety Competition counts toward one of the two federally required mine safety and rescue programs that miners must annually complete.
"Our agency is committed to mine safety and to the continuing development of effective accident prevention programs," said Logan.
The ODNR Mineral Resources Management provides for the safe and environmentally sound development and restoration of mineral and fossil fuel extraction sites. For more information, visit http://www.dnr.state.oh.us.
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For more information, contact:
Jerry Stewart, Mine Safety Manager
(614) 265-6910
Beth Ruth, Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
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