Arch Coal, Inc. announced recently it is donating $300,000 to West Virginia University to fund Mine Health and Safety Research.
The funds, which will be managed by the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ Mining and Industrial Extension Department, will be used to conduct mine health and safety research with an emphasis on mine-level application.
“We greatly appreciate the important work that WVU is doing to educate a new generation of talented engineers, particularly in the mining and industrial arenas,” said Steven F. Leer, chairman and chief executive officer of Arch Coal, Inc. “We applaud the University’s efforts to develop a world-class applied coal mine health and safety research center.”
WVU’s Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies, located in the Mining and Industrial Extension unit, trained nearly 10,000 miners in 2010. The Academy offers a variety of courses, including certification courses for new miners and mine foremen, along with training in mine rescue, mine fire safety, and emergency preparedness.