Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 83.djvu/828

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PUBLIC LAW 91-173-DEC. 30, 1969

[83 STAT.

Act for the purpose of permitting, under such terms and conditions as lie may prescribe, accredited educational institutions the opportunity for experimenting with new and improved techniques and equipment to improve the health and safety of miners. No such exception shall be granted unless the Secretary finds that the granting of the exception will not adversely affect the health and safety of miners and publishes his findings. (g) The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is authorized to make grants to any public or private agency, institution, or organization, and operators or individuals for research and experiments to develop effective respiratory equipment. T R A I N I N G A N D EDUCATION

SEC. 502. (a) The Secretary shall expand programs for the education and training of operators and agents thereof, and miners in— (1) the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of accidents or unsafe or unhealthful working conditions in coal mines; and (2) in the use of flame safety lamps, permissible methane detectors, and other means approved by the Secretary for detecting methane and other explosive gases accurately. (b) The Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible, provide technical assistance to operators in meeting the requirements of this Act and in further improving the health and safety conditions and practices in coal mines. ASSISTANCE

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STATES

SEC. 503. (a) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of

Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of Labor, is authorized to make grants in accordance with an application approved under this section to any State in which coal mining takes place— (1) to assist such State in developing and enforcing effective coal mine health and safety laws and regulations consistent with the provisions of section 506 of this Act; (2) to improve State workmen's compensation and occupational disease laws and programs related to coal mine employment; and (3) to promote Federal-State coordination and cooperation in improving the health and safety conditions in the coal mines. (b) The Secretary shall approve any application or any modification thereof, submitted under this section by a State, through its official coal mine inspection or safety agency, which— (1) sets forth the programs, policies, and methods to be followed in carrying out the application in accordance with the purposes of subsection (a) of this section; (2) provides research and planning studies to carry out plans designed to improve State workmen's compensation and occupational disease laws and programs, as they relate to compensation to miners for occupationally caused diseases and injuries arising out of employment in any coal mine; (3) designates such State coal mine inspection or safety agency as the sole agency responsible for administering grants under this section throughout the State, and contains satisfactory evidence that such agency will have the authority to carry out the purposes of this section;

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