The agency’s Division of Mines chief Frank Linkous told International Longwall News this week that on September 16 it was awarded $US54,000, just shy of the $57,000 requested.

The money will be used to enhance an ongoing mine fire training and prevention program.

“There has been recognition by our coal industry customers of the need for such training,” Linkous said.

“The Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board had issued a resolution asking our agency to make it a strategy to pursue expanded training.”

The local program is new and designed to supplement the education training currently offered by the DMME to mine foremen as well as annual training for the state’s miners. Improving on what is already available is the key goal.

“The grant is seed money to help partner with other Virginia fire training resources to provide specific hands-on, practical training,” Linkous said.

Just as the industry saw with Crandall Canyon, Sago, Aracoma and Darby, Virginia has been faced with many challenges as a result of recent fatal accidents.

This has been, and continues to be, an area of focus for state regulators.

“These tragic accidents have resulted in significant regulatory changes to address better training and emergency response management,” he said.

“The grants provide opportunities for the state to address these issues using public funding.”

The 2009 grant is the second Brookwood-Sago award the DMME has received.

In 2008, the Virginia agency received $85,000 to develop and implement a mine emergency first responder training program for underground mining personnel, and this is now complete and in use.