MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATE GRANTS

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced a funding opportunity (MSHA-2025-1) for State grants under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Approximately 56 grants, totaling $10,537,000, will be awarded for a 12-month period beginning October 1, 2024. These grants aim to assist state, tribal, and territorial governments in developing and enforcing mining laws, improving workers' compensation and occupational disease programs, and enhancing mine safety through Federal-State coordination. Emphasis is placed on training programs addressing mine emergency preparedness, mine rescue, electrical safety, new miner training, and compliance with new rules on respirable crystalline silica and surface mobile equipment. Eligible applicants include various government entities, with a required 20% cost-sharing match. Applications must include an SF-424, SF-424A, a detailed Project Narrative (Action Plan) outlining safety needs, project design, and administrative capacity, and an abstract. Grantees must adhere to specific reporting requirements and administrative standards, with MSHA reviewing all educational materials developed.

Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," promotes federalism by allowing states to coordinate and review proposed federal financial assistance and development. States can designate a State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for this function. The document provides a list of SPOCs as of July 2024 for states like Arizona, Arkansas, California, and others, including US territories like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. States not listed do not participate in this review process, and applicants in those states should send materials directly to the federal awarding agency. Updates to the SPOC list are made after official notification to the OMB. Inquiries about obtaining federal grants should be directed to SAM.gov and Grants.gov, not the OMB email for list changes.