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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mine emergency operations of the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7362065

To assure that the most sophisticated and effective mine survival and rescue techniques were made available promptly, in line with the recommendations of the National Academy of Engineering, the Deputy Director, Health and Safety, Bureau of Mines was given major responsibility for developing a comprehensive mine search and rescue plan procedure with resources and capabilities to locate miners trapped in a mine disaster, establish communications, and effect their survival and eventual rescue through boreholes drilled from the surface. A Mine Emergency Operations Group (MEO) was established in the Pittsburgh Technical Support Center, which included acquiring, manning, and maintaining the necessary equipment and facilities. In the short period of time since MEO was established, significant assistance has been provided at five mine disasters, including the Blacksville coal mine disaster in West Virginia on July 22, 1972, and the Sunshine metal mine disaster in Idaho on May 2, 1972. (auth)

Research Organization:
Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, Washington, D.C. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7362065
Report Number(s):
MESA-IR-1011
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English