‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may award scholarship 
to fully or partially pay the tuition costs of eligible 
individuals enrolled in undergraduate bachelor’s de-
gree programs at accredited colleges or universities 
that provide the skills needed to become mine safety 
inspectors. 
‘‘(2) SKILLS.—The skills described in para-
graph (1) include skills developed through programs 
leading to a degree in mining engineering, civil engi-
neering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineer-
ing, industrial engineering, environmental engineer-
ing, industrial hygiene, occupational health and safe-
ty, geology, chemistry, or other fields of study re-
lated to mine safety and health work. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
scholarship under this subsection an individual 
shall— 
‘‘(A) have a high school diploma or a 
GED; 
‘‘(B) have at least 5 years experience in 
full-time employment in mining or mining-re-
lated activities; 
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‘‘(C) submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information; and 
‘‘(D) agree to be employed for a period of 
at least 5 years at the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration or, to repay, on a pro-rated 
basis, the funds received under this program, 
plus interest, at a rate established by the Sec-
retary upon the issuance of the scholarship. 
‘‘(d) ADVANCED RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may award scholar-
ships to fully or partially pay the tuition costs of eli-
gible individuals enrolled in undergraduate bach-
elor’s degree, masters degree, and Ph.D. degree pro-
grams at accredited colleges or universities that pro-
vide the skills needed to augment and advance re-
search in mine safety and to broaden, improve, and 
expand the universe of candidates for mine safety in-
spector and other regulatory positions in the Mine 
Safety and Health Administration. 
‘‘(2) SKILLS.—The skills described in para-
graph (1) include skills developed through programs 
leading to a degree in mining engineering, civil engi-
neering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineer-
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ing, industrial engineering, environmental engineer-
ing, industrial hygiene, occupational health and safe-
ty, geology, chemistry, or other fields of study re-
lated to mine safety and health work. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
scholarship under this subsection an individual 
shall— 
‘‘(A) have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent 
from an accredited 4-year institution; 
‘‘(B) have at least 5 years experience in 
full-time employment in underground mining or 
mining-related activities; and 
‘‘(C) submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.’’. 
SEC. 15. RESEARCH CONCERNING REFUGE ALTERNATIVES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Institute of Occupa-
tional Safety and Health shall provide for the conduct of 
research, including field tests, concerning the utility, prac-
ticality, survivability, and cost of various refuge alter-
natives in an underground coal mine environment, includ-
ing commercially-available portable refuge chambers. 
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(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shall 
prepare and submit to the Secretary of Labor, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce of the House of Representatives a re-
port concerning the results of the research con-
ducted under subsection (a), including any field 
tests. 
(2) RESPONSE BY SECRETARY.—Not later than 
180 days after the receipt of the report under para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall provide a re-
sponse to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce of the 
House of Representatives containing a description of 
the actions, if any, that the Secretary intends to 
take based upon the report, including proposing reg-
ulatory changes, and the reasons for such actions. 
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SEC. 16. RISK ANALYSIS AND INCIDENT PLANNING PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
No later than 18 months following the enactment of 
this Act the National Institute of Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) shall survey international mining prac-
tices with respect to incident planning generally, with a 
particular focus on the risk assessment-based approach 
undertaken in Australia, and shall compare the same with 
current regulatory practices within the United States. 
Upon completion of such study, NIOSH shall develop and 
publish in the Federal Register protocols for incident plan-
ning. These protocols shall address, but not be limited to, 
the elements that should be included in the incident plan, 
approaches to redesigning mine practices to prevent an in-
cident, and methods for mine operators should design a 
response to incidents, and shall be developed specifically 
for both metal/nonmetal and underground coal operations. 
Upon publication of these protocols NIOSH may encour-
age mine operators to undergo a risk assessment and re-
view using the outlined protocols through its ongoing part-
nerships. 
SEC. 17. BROOKWOOD-SAGO MINE SAFETY GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall es-
tablish a program to award competitive grants for edu-
cation and training, to be known as Brookwood-Sago Mine 
Safety Grants, to carry out the purposes of this section. 
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