Representatives from the National Mining Association (NMA), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will all be on hand to discuss topics such as bleeder and gob ventilation and policy, longwall bleeder ventilation, room and pillar bleeder ventilation, bleeder system examination and seal design.
Being held February 21-22, the schedule runs 8am-4.30pm local time Wednesday and 8.30am-noon on Thursday.
MSHA coal acting administrator Kevin Stricklin told International Longwall News the event is an “impromptu opportunity” for all sides to take the stage and “voice concerns” over the current and future state of ventilation and ventilation regulations. There will be no exhibits or demonstrations, he said, because of the nature of the event as a roundtable discussion.
The inaugural gathering was developed thanks to NMA’s Bruce Watzman and UMWA’s Chris O’Dell, and Stricklin called the itinerary “very current” given current events. A similar event was held in Washington, DC late last year on mine rescue, but this is the first ventilation-related roundtable.
“[It’s] giving the National Mining Association and United Mine Workers an opportunity to say what’s on their mind [and] give their opinion,” Stricklin said.
While everyone who takes the stage or a seat as an attendee may not agree, he said it will “leave them with more information and understanding”
Some of the scheduled presentations include:
Internal Air Flow Paths – Denny Beiter, MSHA;
Eastern Longwall Bleeder Systems (Lou Barletta, Consol Energy) and Western Longwall Bleeder Systems (Link Derick, Peabody Energy – affiliate);
Industry Perspective on Seals and Sealed Areas – Jack Trackemas, Foundation Coal; and
Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for Seals in US Coal Mines – Karl Zipf, NIOSH.
A full itinerary can be found at http://www.msha.gov/events/ventilationseminar022007agenda.pdf. Keep watching International Longwall News for coverage from the event.
