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Tragedies at the Sago Mine, the Aracoma Alma Mine No. 1, and Darby Mine No. 1 in early 2006 raised serious concerns about underground coal mine safety. These events led to sweeping federal and state legislation, including the MINER Act of 2006 (PDF, 170 KB). They also significantly impacted NIOSH's mining research program, focusing attention on a variety of disaster prevention, escape,and response issues.

Congress also provided Emergency Supplemental Appropriation funding to develop technologies related to oxygen supply, refuge chambers, and communications and tracking. The focus was to commercialize demonstrated prototypes, or adapt commercialized technologies from other military or civilian sectors, that could be available for mine use within 24-36 months.

The following sections summarize NIOSH activities related to the MINER Act, including in-house, contract, and partnership efforts. For more information, please phone or email our Contacts.

Focus Areas:

• Prevention
• Ignition Mechanism
• Risk Analysis and Management
• Safety Culture
• Seals
• Ventilation
• Escape
• Emergency Communications and Tracking
• Escape Training
• Escapeways
• Oxygen Supply
• Refuge Chambers
• Rescue and Response
• Emergency Response Plans
• Fire Fighting
• Rescue Technology
• Rescue Training

Contracts and Grants

• Requests for Proposals and Broad Agency Announcements - current contract and grant opportunities
• MINER Act-Related Contract Activities - awarded contracts and interagency agreements

NIOSH Partnerships

• Mine Emergency Communications Partnership
• Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining