Programs on Miner Health, Safety Issues to be Focus of New Research Facility in West Virginia
The CDC recently acquired more than 400 acres of land in West Virginia.
- By Alex Saurman
- Mar 23, 2023
With newly acquired land, the CDC announced that it will build a research facility in West Virginia. The focus of the facility? Programs on the health and safety issues of miners.
According to a news release, the CDC and the General Services Administration acquired a total of 465 acres in Mace, West Virginia, roughly 140 miles east of the state’s capital, to construct an underground mine safety research facility.
The first steps of the process (including “planning, design and construction”) are set to begin this month.
“The mission of the NIOSH Mining Program is to eliminate mining fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through relevant research and impactful solutions,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D, M.P.H in the news release. “The new facility will allow NIOSH to once again conduct full-scale mine explosion studies, support research on various topics such as refuge alternatives and fire suppression and address other issues critical to the safety and health of mine workers.”
The facility isn’t expected to be finished until three years after the start of construction, the CDC said.