Released Monday, March 17, 2003

Media Availability
Head of Federal Mine Safety Agency to Tour Mississippi Lime Company Operations

Ste. Genevieve, Mo. - A media availability and mine tour with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Dave D. Lauriski, and officials of the Mississippi Lime Company will be held Thursday, March 20, 2003, beginning at 8 a.m. The press conference will follow the tour at 11:45 a.m. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration is an enforcement agency which also provides education, training, and technical assistance to influence safety and health within the 14,000 surface and underground mine operations nationwide. There are approximately 380 mines in Missouri employing more than 6,000 miners.

Event:	Mississippi Lime Company Mine Tour and Press Conference
Date:	Thursday, March 20, 2003
Location:	16147 Highway 61 (Exit #143 off of I-55 South) Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Featuring:	Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Dave D. Lauriski
Time:	7:45 a.m. Hazard Training 8 a.m. Safety Process Presentation 9:05 a.m. Mississippi Rotary 9:35 a.m. Central Packaging Plant 10:05 a.m. Vertical Kilns 10:45 a.m. Underground Mine Tour * 11:45 a.m. Press Conference

* Reporters available only for the mine tour should report to main office at 10 a.m.

For further information, please contact Amy Louviere, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Office of Information and Public Affairs, at (202) 693-9423.