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Issue link: https://coal.epubxp.com/i/131326
news continued The reduction in AML funding means that about 50 abandoned mine land projects will not be reclaimed. NMA Releases Second CORESafety Toolbox The National Mining Association (NMA) recently released the second interactive toolbox to help member and non-member companies implement the CORESafety initiative at their facilities. CORESafety is a scalable safety and health management system that provides a comprehensive pathway to achieve within five years mining's goal of eliminating fatalities and reducing the rate of mining injuries by 50%. The Management System Toolbox will educate and assist company personnel on the development, implementation and operation of a safety and health management system (SHMS). The CORESafety SHMS ties many safety variables into a common structure, helping mining companies achieve continuous and sustained safety excellence. "We hope companies find these tools useful and practical for integrating CORESafety into their safety and health management practices, and we welcome feedback on their experience with the latest iteration of our state-of-the-art safety and health initiative," said NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn. The first CORESafety Toolbox, the Culture Enhancement Toolbox, was released last fall. Both resources can be found at www.coresafety.org. Virginia Tech Teams with CONSOL Energy to Identify Coal Seam Carbon Storage Alternatives Virginia Tech's Virginia Center for Coal and Energy (VCCE) Research is teaming with CONSOL Energy on exploring potential carbon stor- March 2013 age alternatives to be conducted in Buchanan County, Va. Being tested will be the potential of unmineable coal seams as storage for carbon dioxide. The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). CONSOL Energy will donate the use of three coalbed methane wells in the pilot project. "We are pleased to be a part of this important research, which will serve to further define carbon storage alternatives and continue our collaborative efforts to develop clean coal technologies," said Steve Winberg, vice president of CONSOL Energy's research and development department. Representatives of the VCCE Research, CONSOL Energy and Cardno MM&A;, formerly Marshall Miller & Associates attended the February 4 meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors to explain the project and its significance to members of the board and the public. Using three coalbed methane wells donated by CONSOL Energy's CNX Gas Virginia operations, plans call for injecting and storing as much as 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide into underlying coal seams at the identified site this fall. The injection will be performed during a one-year period and builds on a recently completed 1,000-ton injection test that took place in neighboring Russell County, Va., in 2009. For this current research program, a comprehensive plan to monitor injected carbon dioxide has been established by the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research and NETL to better understand the feasibility of carbon dioxide storage in unmineable coal seams and to explore the potential for enhanced coal bed methane recovery. www.coalage.com 23