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News Release

Mine rescuers prepare to test their skills in simulated mine emergency

RENO, Nev. – In the event of a mine fire, roof collapse or explosion, mine rescue teams may be tapped to search for colleagues disoriented by toxic gas, trapped beneath layers of rock or severely injured. The teams undergo rigorous training to develop skills that often save lives. Those skills will be put to the test July 27 through 29 at the 2010 Metal/Nonmetal National Mine Rescue Contest, held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration and will feature 38 teams from 16 states, including eight teams from Nevada.

"Mine rescue teams are essential to the safety and health of our nation's miners," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA. "They spend countless hours preparing for an emergency they hope never happens and they hold themselves to the highest standards, even in competition."

The contest consists of several events. In the field competition, teams must navigate through a simulated mine emergency while judges rate them on how well they adhere to mine rescue procedures and how quickly they complete specific tasks. In the first aid contest, emergency medical technicians tackle real-life scenarios. The technician team must make necessary checks of equipment to see that it works properly, including multi-gas instruments, self-contained breathing apparatuses, portable communication systems, and other available mine rescue equipment and supplies.

At the conclusion of the three-day event, an awards banquet will be held Thursday evening at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno.

Following this release is a complete list of competing mine rescue teams.

To see photographs and contest winners, go to http://www.msha.gov/MineRescue/CONTEST/2010MNM/2010HOME.asp.

COMPANY NAME

TEAM NAME

MINE NAME

CITY

ST

American Gilsonite Co.

American Gilsonite

American Gilsonite Co.

Bonanza

Utah

Barrick Gold

Barrick Cortez

Barrick Cortez

Crescent Valley

Nev.

Barrick Gold Corp.

Turquoise Ridge Team #2

Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture

Golconda

Nev.

Barrick Gold Corp.

Turquoise Ridge Team #1

Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture

Golconda

Nev.

Barrick Goldstrike

BGMI Team 1

Goldstrike

Elko

Nev.

Barrick Goldstrike

BGMI Team 2

Goldstrike

Elko

Nev.

Cargill Deicing Technology

Salty Cajuns

Avery Island Mine

Avery Island

La.

Cargill Deicing Technology

Team Cayuga

Cayuga Mine

Lansing

N.Y.

Cargill Deicing Technology

Whiskey Island

Cleveland Mine

Cleveland

Ohio

Carmeuse Lime and Stone

Maysville Raiders

Maysville Operation

Maysville

Ky.

Carmeuse Lime and Stone

Black River Bandits

 

Butler

Ky.

Climax Molybdenum - Henderson Operations

Henderson Mine Rescue

Henderson Mine

Empire

Colo.

FMC

FMC White Team

FMC 8 Shaft

Green River

Wyo.

FMC

FMC Red Team

FMC 8 Shaft

Green River

Wyo.

General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners

General Chemical Black Team

General Chemical Mine

Green River

Wyo.

General Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners

General Chemical Blue Team

General Chemical Mine

Green River

Wyo.

Great Basin Gold

Hollister Mine Rescue

Hollister Mine

Winnemucca

Nev.

Hecla Limited

Lucky Friday

Lucky Friday

Mullan

Idaho

Hecla Mining Co.

Hecla Greens Creek

Greens Creek

Juneau

Ark.

Hutchinson Salt Co.

Hutchinson Salt Co.

 

Hutchinson

Kan.

Intrepid Potash, New Mexico LLC

Blue Team - Intrepid

Intrepid Potash

Carlsbad

N.M.

Kinross Gold Corp.

Kettle River-Buckhorn

Buckhorn Mine

Republic

Wash.

Morton Salt

Team Texas

Kleer Mine

Grand Saline

Texas

Morton Salt Co.

Weeks Island Mine Rescue

Weeks Island

New Iberia

La.

Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Inc.

Mosaic Black Team

Mosaic Carlsbad

Carlsbad

N.M.

Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Inc.

Mosaic White Team

Mosaic Carlsbad

Carlsbad

N.M.

Newmont Mining

Newmont Carlin

Carlin

Elko

Nev.

Newmont Mining

Newmont Midas

Midas

Elko

Nev.

OCI Wyoming L.P.

OCI Blue

Big Island Mine

Green River

Wyo.

OCI Wyoming L.P.

OCI White

Big Island Mine

Green River

Wyo.

SMM Pogo LLC

Pogo Mine Rescue

Pogo Mine

Delta Jct.

Ark.

Solvay Chemicals Inc.

Solvay Chemicals Blue

Solvay Chemicals

Green River

Wyo.

Solvay Chemicals Inc.

Solvay Chemicals Silver

Solvay Chemicals

Green River

Wyo.

The DOE Run Co.

Doe Run Maroon

SEMO

Viburnum

Mo.

The DOE Run Co.

Doe Run Grey

SEMO

Viburnum

Mo.

Vulcan Materials

Vulcan Blue

Bolingbrook Underground

Naperville

Ill.

Washington TRU-Solutions

WIPP Red Team

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Carlsbad

N.M.

Washington TRU-Solutions

WIPP Blue Team

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Carlsbad

N.M.

 

Agency
Mine Safety & Health Administration
Date
July 26, 2010
Release Number
10-1054-SAN
Media Contact: Amy Louviere
Phone Number