Efforts by the University of Utah Department of Mining Engineering to advance mine safety received a boost last week with a second $250,000 donation from Consol Energy Inc.
Consol, the country's largest producer of high-BTU bituminous coal and owner of a coal mine in Emery County, made its initial $250,000 donation last year when it teamed up with Barrick Gold North America as lead sponsors in creating a $1.5 million endowed position known as the Western Mining Presidential Chair in Mine Safety.
Since those two companies' donations, additional contributions from Rio Tinto Kennecott, Rocky Mountain Power, Arch Coal, Intermountain Electronics, John T. Boyd & Co. and mining-engineering alumni have built the endowment to almost $1 million, said department Chairman Mike Nelson.
Consol's president and chief executive, J. Brett Harvey, is a fourth-generation miner whose career began at Sunnyside mine in Carbon County. Harvey was president and CEO of PacifiCorp's coal operations, which include the Deer Creek mine in Emery County, before joining Consol.
Harvey participated in the original donation last year. This year's contribution was presented by Bart Hyita, Consol's vice president and chief operating officer.
With the additional money, the department "will soon be able to hire a faculty member who can educate our students in mine safety, and who will also take the lead in establishing a center for the promotion and establishment of progressive and effective safety and health systems in the mining industry," Nelson said.
Pittsburgh-based Consol has 18 coal mining complexes in six states, including one near Emery City.
Among Consol, Rocky Mountain Power and Arch Coal, financial supporters of the mine-safety chair own five mines responsible for three quarters of Utah's coal production, which amounted to 22 million tons in 2009.
