The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training announced on Thursday that all 180 underground mines that were required to have an approved emergency shelter within 1,000’ of the working face are in compliance. More than 300 shelters are in place across the State. In a similar note, a nationwide survey recently completed by NMA, indicated the industry has spent more than $800 million to comply with the requirements of the MINER Act of 2006. According to the survey, $91 million was spent for more than 150,000 new self-contained self-rescuers (SCSR) and 907 emergency shelters cost $90 million. Sealing of all abandoned areas, as required by the law, cost $89 million, and $86 million has been spent on tracking systems and related Emergency Response Plans.
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