FEDERAL AGENCY:

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-164, Section 503.

OBJECTIVES:

To assist States in providing safety and health training and developing programs to improve mine health and safety conditions.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Any mining State of the United States.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   States.

Credentials/Documentation:   In addition to items as stated in Grant Solicitation from Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), State official mine inspection or safety agency has or will employ an adequate and competent staff of qualified trainers to provide health and safety training for miners and trained inspectors qualified under the laws of the State to make mine inspections within the State. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. The application will be submitted in an original and two copies to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Notification will be made by the Office responsible for monitoring performance.

Deadlines:   Applications are due in May each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Within 3 months.

Appeals:   Within 30 days from the final decision date, an appeal may be filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Renewals:   Renewals may be made on a fiscal year basis, or a portion thereof when necessary, in the same manner as that required for the original request.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   A maximum of 80 percent of the amount expended by any mining State for a fiscal year is paid from Federal funds and at least 20 percent is paid by the applicant State.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Length of assistance is on a fiscal year basis or a portion thereof. Time phasing of assistance is on a cost reimbursable basis, normally quarterly.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual Technical reports as required by MSHA shall be furnished to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health stating work accomplished, benefits derived, project status. Quarterly Financial Reports listing expenditures and amounts obligated are required.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. On-site audits will be made by representatives of the Secretary of Labor and the Comptroller General of the United States.

Records:   Records relating to each grant shall be retained and made available until the expiration of 3 years after the grantees' last disbursement of such funds. Prescribed guidelines are set forth in attachment C, OMB Circular No. A-102 (revised).

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   16-1200-0-1-554.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $7,639,000; FY 02 est $7,799,000; and FY 03 est $7,799,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
From $25,000 to $528,394. Average: $175,854.

New and renewal grants for programs in fiscal year 2002 have been made in the following amounts: Alabama - $184,000; Alaska - $43,000; Arizona - $275,000; Arkansas - $96,000; California - $326,000; Colorado - $202,000; Connecticut - $43,000; Florida - $155,000; Georgia - $184,000; Idaho - $89,000; Illinois - $213,000; Indiana - $178,000; Iowa - $109,000; Kansas - $77,000; Kentucky $602,000; Maine - $51,000; Massachusetts - $63,000; Michigan - $206,000; Minnesota - $261,000; Mississippi - $59,000; Missouri - $193,000; Montana - $121,000; Nebraska - $63,000; Nevada - $223,000; New Hampshire - $37,000; New Jersey - $49,000; New Mexico - $139,000; New York - $250,000; North Carolina - $146,000; North Dakota - $57,000; Ohio - $251,000; Oklahoma - $97,000; Oregon - $99,000; Pennsylvania - $492,000; South Carolina - $64,000; Tennessee - $133,000; Texas - $396,000; Utah - $165,000; Vermont - $68,000; Virginia - $256,000; Washington - $141,000; West Virginia - $534,000; Wisconsin - $207,000; Wyoming - $176,000; and Navajo Nation - $26,000.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

29 CFR, Part 97.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   Jeffrey A. Duncan 201 12th Street South, Arlington, Virginia 22202 Phone: (202) 693-9570

Web Site Address:  
http://www.msha.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

1) Training and retraining of miners by State instructors; 2) mine emergency operations; 3) assisting States in training miners in health related injury; 4) assisting in maintaining mine rescue teams at State mine rescue stations; and 5) development and implementation of accident prevention programs.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Responses related to the following proposal criteria enable the applicant to show that the proposed grant is consistent with the purposes of the Act: (a) Programs, policies, and methods to be followed in administering the grant, (b) designation of the State mining agency as the sole agency with authority and responsibility for administering the grant throughout the State, (c) assurances that such agency has an adequate and competent staff of trained and qualified inspectors, (d) use of the grant will extend and improve mine health and safety in the State while providing for no advance notice of an inspection, (e) assurances that grant will supplement not supplant existing State mine health and safety programs, (f) period over which program will be pursued, (g) financial plan, (h) fiscal control and accounting procedures, (i) name and title of person who will direct the program, (j) approximate number of qualified personnel who will work on the program, (k) location or locations where program will be pursued, (1) assurance that matching funds from nonfederal sources will be forthcoming, (m) indication of whether the programs or any part have been or will be submitted to other organizations for the purpose of obtaining a grant, and (n) agreement that the official State mine agency shall make required reports.