The new MSHA diesel rules have stone mine operators looking hard at possible upgrades to their ventilation systems. There are existing methods to reduce diesel engine emissions (MSHA, 2001)(Head, 2001b), but many operators will decide that a ventilation upgrade is necessary as well. NIOSH has several stone mine ventilation projects underway, but in the meantime a good information resource is the work done by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in the 70's and 80's on ventilation for oil shale mines. The Bureau conducted this research because oil shale mines were projected to be gassy and would, therefore, require a lot of ventilation air. The focus of this oil shale work was on the use of jet fans for face area ventilation, and on stoppings that would be low cost and leak-tight. The work also considered changes in mine design to reduce the number and size of stoppings. The findings are still applicable to stone mines.

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