Mining center gets $900K
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The state budget signed Sunday by Gov. Corbett includes $900,000 for the Mining Training and Technology Center in Greene County. The announcement came from state Sen. Tim Solobay, and state Reps. Pam Snyder and Brandon Neuman.
“Pennsylvania has built and international reputation as a leader in mine safety and mine rescue technology,” Solobay said. “Continued support for this state-of-the-art training center will help save lives in the event of an accident but, more importantly, it will help prevent accidents from occurring.”
The MTTC was built on 65 acres in Prosperity, Greene County, using a $4 million state grant and is run by the non-profit UMWA Career Centers Inc.
“Coal mining is a critical industry in this region and Pennsylvania is one of the leading producers of coal in the nation so it’s important that we are a leader in mine safety training,” Snyder said. “There is tough competition for state support in these lean budget years and I’m glad we could all get together and make a winning case for these miners.”
The MTTC has already trained thousands of miners in mine safety skills, including first aid, CPR, ventilation and mine evacuation, and has trained more than 2,500 students for mine rescue teams.
“Job training is a vital tool in our effort to grow Pennsylvania’s economy,” Neuman said. “Energy is important to the regional economy and the MTTC helps take advantage of those resources while protecting the safety of workers.”
The facility features a simulated coal mine, consisting of artificial blocks of coal that replicate the physical layout and conditions of an underground mine, inside a 40,000-square-foot building. Each graduate receives the requisite 40-hour Mine Safety and Health Administration training certificate, a CPR card, a certificate of completion from the school and a Penn State University certificate that will show potential employers the graduate is qualified to work in an underground mine.
“We’re very grateful to Solobay, Snyder and Neuman for their staunch support of our mission,” said Clemmy Allen, MTTC executive director. “As longtime miners retire and take their experience with them, it’s critical to safe operation of Pennsylvania mines to provide intensive safety training for a new generation of miners.”