MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

BETWEEN THE 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 

AND THE 

OFFICE OF MINES AND MINERALS 

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 

State of Illinois 

Coal Mine Electrical Certificate of Qualification Program 

The following program for qualifying persons as coal mine electricians is administered by the 

Illinois State Mining Board in the Illinois Department ofNatural Resources, Office of Mines and 

Minerals (OMM), under authority granted in 220 Ill. Comp. Stat, 705/2.01 and Ill. Admin. Code 

tit. 62, § 220.50(e) and MSHA's authority under 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. and 30 C.P.R. §§ 

75.153(a) and 77.1 03(a). This electrical qualification program as described below is approved by 

the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), United States Department of Labor. This 

agreement will become effective when signed by all parties and run indefinitely, unless 

terminated with the mutual consent of the parties or by one party upon thirty days' written notice 

to the other party. This agreement creates no private right of action against the Federal 

Government or the State of Illinois. This agreement creates no rights in any third party. This 

agreement will not be construed as obligating Federal funds. Nothing in this agreement obligates 

MSHA to expend appropriations or enter into any contract or other obligations. Nothing in this 

agreement shall limit, supersede, or otherwise affect MSHA's or the State of Illinois' normal 

operations or decisions in carrying out its statutory or regulatory duties. This agreement does not 

limit or restrict the parties from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other 

entities. 

1. 0 General: 

a) A number of MSHA mandatory safety standard applicable to underground and surface 

coal mines and Illinois rules and regulations restrict the performance of electrical work to 

qualified persons. Under MSHA standards, one method for becoming a qualified person 

to perform electrical work is through a state program approved by MSHA.. 

b) The Illinois State Mining Board shall hold examinations for individuals qualified to 

perform work as outlined in the Coal Mining Act at 225 ILCS 705/40.01 et seq. including 

coal mine electricians. Examinations are conducted under the authority of the State 

Mining Board on a regular basis. The State Mining Board has the authority to implement 

and administer this electrical qualification program for the State of Illinois. OMM will 

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act in behalf of the State Mining Board in the administration of the electrical qualification 

program. 

c) OMM and MSHA shall confer as needed to maintain consistency with State and Federal 

requirements and compliance with the provisions of this program. 

2.0 Categories of Qualification: 

a) Coal Mine Electrician- Surface Only 

b) Coal Mine Electrician- Underground Only 

c) Coal Mine Electrician- Surface and Underground 

3.0 Eligibility: 

To be eligible for qualification as a coal mine electrician, applicants must submit evidence of 

at least one year of experience in performing electrical work in a coal mine or acceptable 

related industry to the State Mining Board and MSHA's District Manager. The evidence 

must include details of electrical work, including but not limited to; dates of work, work 

performed, and types of equipment upon which electrical work was conducted and the names 

of persons supervising the work. 

a) Applicants must submit all evidence of eligibility at least 30 days prior to the scheduled 

examination. 

b) Applicants are eligible to take the Illinois Mine Electrical Examination if, at the time 

of application, they: 

1. are classified, by Illinois, as an Apprentice Mine Electrician and have met the 

requirements for an apprentice or 

2. possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical engineering and provide proof 

of electrical experience or 

3. are qualified as an Illinois mine electrician but have not taken the examinations 

required in 30 CFR §§75.153(a)(3) and 77.103(a)(3). 

c) The State Mining Board and MSHA must be in agreement regarding applicant's 

qualifications. 

4.0 Examination 

All applicants seeking to be qualified as a coal mine electrician shall take an examination 

administered by the State Mining Board. The examination will be in three parts; written, oral 

and practical. The written examination is comprised of questions randomly selected from a 

database. MSHA shall be given the opportunity to review the examination question database and 

the procedures for oral and practical examinations. 

OMM will retain the completed examinations for a minimum of two years from the date the 

applicant achieved a passing score on all examinations. 

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The examination for Coal Mine Electrician- Surface Only, will include the following seven 

categories: 

a) Direct current theory and application 

b) Alternating current theory and application 

c) Electric equipment and circuits 

d) Permissibility of electric equipment 

e) Applicable Sections ofNational Electrical Code 

f) Requirements of Subparts F through J and S of30 C.F.R. Part 77 

g) Relevant Illinois laws/regulations and arc flash prevention 

The examination for Coal Mine Electrician- Underground Only, will include the following 

seven categories: 

a) Direct current theory and application 

b) Alternating current theory and application 

c) Electric equipment and circuits 

d) Permissibility of electric equipment 

e) Applicable Sections ofNational Electrical Code 

f) Requirements of Subparts F through K of 30 C.F .R. Part 75 

g) Relevant Illinois laws/regulations and arc flash prevention 

The examination for Coal Mine Electrician- Surface and Underground, will include the 

following eight categories: 

a) Direct current theory and application 

b) Alternating current theory and application 

c) Electric equipment and circuits 

d) Permissibility of electric equipment 

e) Applicable Sections ofNational Electrical Code 

f) Requirements of Subparts F through K of30 C.F.R. Part 75 

g) Requirements of Subparts F through J and S of30 C.F.R. Part 77 

h) Relevant Illinois laws/regulations and arc flash prevention 

5.0 Scheduling: 

The State Mining Board shall establish an examination schedule. Examinations shall be 

conducted at least twice a year and public notice will announce the time and place of the 

examinations. Additional examinations will be scheduled if needed. MSHA shall be notified at 

least 15 days prior to any examination date to monitor or assist. 

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6.0 Conditions: 

a) Examinations and exam question database are under the exclusive control of OMM. 

Completed exams will be collected and secured; no completed or blank written 

examinations will be allowed to be taken from the testing facility. 

b) Candidates for examination must provide photo identification prior to taking the 

examination. 

c) Candidates taking the examination shall be provided a pencil, and paper which must be 

returned after the test. 

d) A scientific calculator (with memory cleared) is permitted. 

e) The practical and oral examinations may be administered on another date. 

7.0 Scoring: 

a) Candidates must achieve in the written examination a minimum score of 80% on all 

categories of the written exam and pass the oral and practical examinations to receive a 

Coal Mine Electrical Certificate of Qualification. 

b) Candidates failing to achieve 80% on any portion of the examination will be given two 

additional opportunities to retake and pass the failed portion(s). Candidates failing the 

practical or oral examination will be given one additional opportunity to pass the failed 

examination. 

c) Candidates failing to achieve a passing grade on the written, practical or oral 

examinations, after the allotted number of opportunities to retake the examination, will be 

required to retake all of the examinations to become qualified as a coal mine electrician. 

8.0 Qualification Cards: 

a) OMM will issue the appropriate Illinois electrical qualification card to successful 

candidates and submit candidates' names to MSHA in order for MSHA to issue electrical 

qualification cards. 

b) To maintain Illinois electrical qualification, an individual must annually complete an 

Illinois-approved eight (8) hour electrical refresher class provided by an Illinois-approved 

electrical instructor. In order to maintain MSHA electrical qualification, this refresher 

class also must be provided by a MSHA-approved electrical instructor and MSHAapproved under 30 C.F.R. §§ 75.153(g) and/or 77.103(g) and the individual must certify 

class completion annually to the District Manager. 

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9.0 Points of Contact: 

For the State of Illinois: 

Jim Hafliger 

Office of Mines and Minerals 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources 

One Natural Resources Way 

Springfield, Illinois 62702 

217-782-5832 

E-mail: jim.hafliger@illinois.gov 

ForMSHA: 

Steve Gigliotti 

Chief of Safety for 

Coal Mine Safety and Health Administration 

1100 Wilson Blvd 

Arlington, VA 22209 

202-693-9479 

E-mail: gigliotti.stephen@dol.gov 

The parties shall refer all conflicts that arise under this agreement to the respective point of 

contact for resolution. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached at this level, the parties will 

refer the matter to the signatories. 

10.0 Reciprocity: 

Certificates of Coal Mine Electrical Qualification will be issued to holders of a current coal mine 

electrical qualification from another MSHA approved State program or holders of a MSHA 

electrical qualification card. Such reciprocity will only be granted upon request to the State 

Mining Board following a successful examination on the specific Illinois laws/regulations and 

arc flash portion of the exam. 

Mich el L. oods, Office Director 

Office of M nes and Minerals 

Illinois Department ofNatural Resources 

Date 4- 2C/-- 2c? I 3 

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