March 6, 1997

COAL MINE VENTILATION TOPIC OF UPCOMING PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE

The Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will jointly sponsor the Sixth International Mine Ventilation Congress on May 18-22, 1997, at the Doubletree Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. The gathering provides an exchange of ideas and information on coal mine ventilation and air contaminant control.

"This is one of the most important and informative mining conferences in the Nation," said J. Davitt McAteer, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "The wealth of knowledge and expertise brought to this event from mining professionals around the world gives us an extraordinary opportunity to make tremendous strides toward safer underground mining."

Since the first International Mine Ventilation Congress in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1975, the meetings have provided an opportunity for ventilation professionals, mine operators, academics, consultants, labor and government to review and discuss the state-of-the-art in mine ventilation, environmental control and monitoring, fires, explosions and allied disciplines impacting upon the health and safety of miners.

Sponsoring the gathering along with MSHA is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the United Mine Workers of America, the United Steel Workers of America, the National Mining Association and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.

As with previous meetings, participants in the Sixth Congress will be afforded opportunities for pre-and post-meeting field trips to mine properties, and informational seminars on mine ventilation and environmental control.

For more detailed information, contact Edward Miller, Congress chairman, at MSHA on 703-235-1580.