PURPOSE:  Provide a modern, full-scale realistic laboratory for underground and surface research that significantly contributes to the enhancement of workplace safety and health for miners and other workers.

RESEARCH SUMMARY:  Lake Lynn Laboratory near Fairchance, PA, provides an isolated surface facility and a full-scale underground mine to conduct large-scale research in mine disaster prevention and response, as well as numerous other research areas of national interest requiring the study of large-scale surface and underground safety and health problems. The ability of Lake Lynn to simulate virtually any underground coal mine geometry provides a practical, realistic research laboratory for mining research under various controlled conditions of ventilation, humidity, pressure, and temperature. To facilitate the underground research, electrical power, compressed air, water, communications, video lines, natural gas lines, and a unique high-speed data-gathering instrumentation system have been incorporated into the design at the site. The surface facilities provide an isolated environment in which large-scale research and testing can be conducted in a realistic, yet environmentally controlled manner.

On-going research at Lake Lynn includes the development and evaluation of fire suppression systems and early warning technologies, development and evaluation of mine seals and other ventilation structures, evaluation of prototype mining equipment and sensors, noise control studies, ventilation studies, roof support technologies, evaluation of explosive incendivity and toxic gases, determination of explosion limits for combustible dusts and ignitability of mists and vapors, mine rescue team training evaluations in smoke-filled entries, and respirable dust deposition and diesel particulate studies. The information generated as a result of the research conducted at Lake Lynn is vital to the mining industry in the development of improved technology and practices to protect mining personnel from the many hazards associated with their jobs. Although the primary mission of Lake Lynn is in support of mine safety and health programs, the unique characteristics of the facility make it attractive for research in support of other industrial problems. Cooperative research within these areas is often conducted on a resource availability, cost-reimbursement basis. This project supports and coordinates all of the Lake Lynn research efforts; enhances the research capabilities of Lake Lynn; and maintains safety, health, and environmental controls at Lake Lynn.