Stolar awarded federal contract to further safety of miners

Stolar Research Corp. of Raton has received a contract award valued at almost $1.4 million from the federal government to develop a demonstration of mine-safety equipment. The announcement came during a meeting on Monday between Stolar heads and Dave Lauriski, assistant secretary of labor for Mine Safety and Health in Washington.

The Stolar contract is part of a $10 million federal funding package to create and enhance technologies that detect underground air-filled and water-filled mine voids with the expectation that this will play a key role in saving the lives of miners.

Stolar was among 58 entities that included state and private organizations and universities that submitted proposals for a share of the funding.

Lauriski said his team looked at seismic and electromagnetic technology and tomographic capabilities on the parts of the candidates before choosing eight to receive contracts. The $1,395,000 Stolar is to receive will come in increments over the next 12 months.

“This project is so important to the industry,” Stolar’s Chief Technical Officer Larry Stolarczyk told Lauriski during an inspection of the equipment the company will use in the project. “We have four Ph.D.’s and seven guys with master’s degrees working on this, so we feel there’s a real good chance of getting a good demonstration for you.”

Fifty-six miners were killed in mine accidents in 2003, Lauriski said. Stolar’s work will be an important part of the Mine Safety and Health Department’s push to lower that number.

“This is an enhancement to the health and safety of this nation’s miners,” Lauriski said. “I know (Stolarczyk’s) dedication and commitment. This is going to benefit the miners and is of vital importance to me.”

Lauriski went on to say that because of their association in the past and the work they’ve done, he and Stolarczyk share a common vision: “That each miner in this country has the same opportunity, and that opportunity is that they can go home to their loved ones in a healthy and safe condition. The money we’re awarding today will move us in that direction.”

Awareness of mine-safety – or lack of it – was heightened after the deaths of nine coal miners in the 2002 Quecreek mine disaster in Somerset, Penn. The miners were trapped underground when they cut into a water-filled void they didn’t know was full of water. The technology Stolar has developed will allow miners to know what’s behind the walls they’re cutting through.

“We’re very pleased to be able to receive this award,” said Stolar spokesman Jerry Jones. “It was highly competed for. It’s for a very important cause – saving the lives of underground miners. This project is going to be held as one of the most critical projects we have over the next twelve months.”

Monday’s ceremony made official the awarding of the contract, which was given Oct. 8.

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