Mine Health and Safety Grants (17.600)

Program

17.600 Mine Health and Safety Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Mine Safety and Health Administration

Authorization

Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977, Public Law 095-164.

Program Number

17.600

Last Known Status

Active

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

Uses and Use Restrictions

Provides grants (1) To assist States in developing and enforcing effective coal or other mine health and safety laws and regulations consistent with the provisions of section 506 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977; (2) to improve State workers' compensation and occupational disease laws and programs related to coal or other mine employment; and (3) to provide Federal- State coordination and cooperation in improving the health and safety conditions in the coal or other mines.

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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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

May 01, 2009 Applications are due in May each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. Within three months.

Appeals

From 15 to 30 days. 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

Statutory Formula: Public Law 95-164, Section 503 (g).

Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. 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 are paid by the Applicant State.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

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. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

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. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. Quarterly Financial Reports listing expenditures and amounts obligated are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. 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 $500,000 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 three years after the grantees' last disbursement of such funds. Prescribed guidelines are set forth in attachment C, OMB Circular No. A-102 (revised).

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Alabama - $193,000; Alaska - $49,000; Arizona - $277,000; Arkansas - $96,000; California - $327,000; Colorado - $203,000; Connecticut - $43,000; Delaware - $4,000; Florida - $166,000; Georgia - $186,000; Idaho - $89,000; Illinois - $212,000; Indiana - $185,000; Iowa - $112,000; Kansas - $80,000; Kentucky $606,000; Louisiana - $79,000; Maine - $54,000; Maryland - $56,000; Massachusetts - $63,000; Michigan - $208,000; Minnesota - $264,000; Mississippi - $59,000; Missouri - $200,000; Montana - $133,000; Nebraska - $64,000; Nevada - $227,000; New Hampshire - $39,000; New Jersey - $48,000; New Mexico - $142,000; New York - $250,000; North Carolina - $148,000; North Dakota - $57,000; Ohio - $254,000; Oklahoma - $104,000; Oregon - $102,000; Pennsylvania - $511,000; Puerto Rico - $53,000; Rhode Island - $9,000; South Carolina - $64,000; South Dakota - $57,000; Tennessee - $135,000; Texas - $415,000; Utah - $166,000; Vermont - $68,000; Virginia - $260,000; Washington -$143,000; West Virginia - $544,000; Wisconsin - $186,000; Wyoming -$187,000; and Navajo Nation - $26,000. Fiscal Year 2009: Alabama - $196,000; Alaska - $50,000; Arizona - $283,000; Arkansas - $98,000; California - $333,000; Colorado - $207,000; Connecticut - $44,000; Delaware - $4,000; Florida - $169,000; Georgia - $190,000; Idaho - $91,000; Illinois - $217,000; Indiana - $189,000; Iowa - $114,000; Kansas - $82,000; Kentucky $618,000; Louisiana - $80,000; Maine - $55,000; Maryland - $57,000; Massachusetts - $65,000; Michigan - $212,000; Minnesota - $270,000; Mississippi - $60,000; Missouri - $204,000; Montana - $135,000; Nebraska - $66,000; Nevada - $232,000; New Hampshire - $40,000; New Jersey - $49,000; New Mexico - $145,000; New York - $255,000; North Carolina - $151,000; North Dakota - $58,000; Ohio - $259,000; Oklahoma - $106,000; Oregon - $104,000; Pennsylvania - $521,000; Rhode Island - $10,000; South Carolina - $65,000; South Dakota - $58,000; Tennessee - $138,000; Texas - $423,000; Utah - $169,000; Vermont - $69,000; Virginia - $265,000; Washington -$146,000; West Virginia - $555,000; Wisconsin - $189,000; Wyoming -$190,000; and Navajo Nation - $26,000. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-1200-0-1-554.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $8,441,000; FY 09 est $8,441,000; FY 10 est $8,441,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

From $3,993 to $617,956. Average: $166,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

29 CFR Part 97.

Related Programs

17.601 Mine Health and Safety Counseling and Technical Assistance; 93.262 Occupational Safety and Health Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Jeffrey A. Duncan 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22209 Phone: (202) 693-9572

Web Site Address

http://www.msha.gov .

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (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. Fiscal Year 2009: (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. Fiscal Year 2010: (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.