U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
News Release

Media Advisory							Contact:	Bill Kovacic
June 26, 2003									(859) 260-8402

MEDIA ADVISORY
MSHA, OSM SPONSOR FORUM ON DETECTING UNDERGROUND MINE VOIDS


Technologies for detecting and mapping potentially dangerous underground mine voids will be discussed 
July 28-30 at a forum in Lexington, KY sponsored by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 
and the Office of Surface Mining (OSM).

Accidents that have released millions of gallons of coal slurry into streams and trapped miners in the last 
three years have highlighted the need for more accurate detection of abandoned underground coal mine 
works. The two-day forum, "Geophysical Technologies for Detecting Underground Coal Mine Voids", will 
evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of available geophysical technologies for detecting, locating, 
and delineating active and inactive underground coal mine workings.

Speakers will include Jeff Jarrett, Director of OSM and Dave Lauriski, Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Mine Safety and Health.  The forum will also feature exhibitors with information on various technologies.  


Who:  	The Mine Safety and Health Administration
The Office of Surface Mining

What: 	Forum: Geophysical Technologies for Detecting Underground Coal Mine Voids
When: 	Registration is July 28; Meeting is July 29 and 30, 2003.
		
Where:	Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. If you need overnight accommodations, 
please contact the Hyatt directly at 859/253-1234 or 1-800-233-1234 and ask for the room block 
for the Coal Mine Voids Forum.  The rate is $65 single and $90 double (plus 12.4% tax), and will 
be held until June 28.  Reservations after June 28 will be accepted on a space available basis 
only.  Other local hotel information may be found at www.visitlex.com.

Registration: The University of Kentucky (UK) is providing conference support services to us.  If you have 
questions regarding registration and lodging, please feel free to contact Geaunita Caylor at UK at 
859/257-2820 or email gcaylor@engr.uky.edu.  For additional information, go to 
http://www.osmre.gov/ocevent.htm and download the conference program.

Interview Opportunities: JEFF JARRETT, Director of OSM; DAVE LAURISKI, Assistant Secretary of 
Labor for Mine Safety and Health.

-OSM-