The deadline to submit a 200-400 word abstract of your recent research or work has been extended to Tuesday, May 27. This is your chance to share your techniques, strategies and research with your peers and industry leaders at the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering.

If your abstract is selected, you will have the opportunity to present your findings at the 41st Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique.

The Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique is the largest gathering of its kind involving field blasters, manufacturers of explosives-related products, educators and researchers. The conference provides a forum for the discussion of practical and technical information as well as presentation of the latest discoveries in the commercial explosives industry worldwide. ISEE members and non-members are invited to submit ideas for papers to be presented at the Conference. Presented papers will be published in the conference proceedings.

During the 2013 Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique in Fort Worth, Texas, the ISEE Board of Directors unanimously voted to fill a vacant seat on the board by appointing a student director for 2014. Because of the success of this appointment, the ISEE board would like to continue its efforts to have student representation.

The 2015 appointment will run concurrently with the presiding ISEE President’s term, but for a one-year period, and will consist of a selected member of a student chapter of the ISEE. The selected student director must have approval and support from his or her student chapter and Institution prior to applying for the position.

The deadline to apply is June 15, 2014.

Calling all students pursuing an education degree related to the commercial explosives industry: The SEE Education Foundation is awarding close to $60,000 in scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year, and you may be eligible.

Eligible students must be pursuing a technical, undergraduate, graduate or doctorate degree in fields of education related to the commercial explosives industry. Students also must be able to demonstrate the need for financial assistance. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2014.

IME is seeking a government affairs professional to advance the Institute's legislative and regulatory strategy in Washington, DC. Click to view the complete job description.

Please send resume and cover letter to Ms. Cindy Lopez, Office Manager at clopez@ime.org by Friday, May 23, 2014.

The search for victims of last week's coal mine fire in Turkey is now over, with a final death toll of 301, Turkish government officials said Saturday.

Authorities believe they have now recovered the bodies of all the workers who perished in the Soma mine when the fire erupted Tuesday.

The investigation into what caused the deadliest disaster in Turkish mining history continues, the Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate said.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has agreed to toughen state regulations and oversight of explosives licenses in Louisiana.

Jindal signed into law Wednesday the bill by Sen. Francis Thompson, a Democrat from Delhi.

The measure was a response to the discovery of millions of pounds of improperly stored military propellant at Camp Minden. An October 2012 explosion led to an investigation in which a Louisiana State Police investigator discovered the propellant.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defeated a challenge from a group seeking to force regulation of air pollution produced by coal mines, a fourth court victory this year for the agency’s discretion to set air-quality standards.

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington ruled the EPA had broad latitude to determine the timing and priorities of its regulatory agenda. The agency provided a reasonable explanation for declining to regulate coal mines now, the appeals panel said.

Two workers have been confirmed dead after an underground coal mine accident in West Virgina and rescue operations are wrapping up Tuesday morning as the local office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training confirmed there were no more miners reported trapped.

The fatal incident occurred Monday night at Patriot Coal's Brody Mine No. 1, located in Boone County, in the southwestern part of the state. According to WOWK-TV the mine had received 253 "significant and substantial" violations from the U.S. government's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) during a 12-month review, which ended last August.

Celebrating three decades in business, mining explosives company BME has noted continual growth on the African continent throughout this time and has firmly set its sights on further expanding its footprint in Southern and East Africa.

Speaking to the media at a site visit to its Sasolburg and Losberg plants west of Johannesburg on Thursday, BME MD Francois Hay said momentum in the industry had really picked up, particularly over the last five years.

The $919.66 million ammonia plant in New Orleans would cost closer to $1.4 billion to build in Australia, chief executive James Fazzino said.

Australia had a great opportunity to become the food bowl for Asia — but it must get its productivity and costs under control, he said.

"The difference is in the US the project has about 35 per cent of the cost being labour, it Australia it would be more like 60%," Mr Fazzino told reporters as the company released half year financial results.

Fertilizer and ammonia manufacturer AM Agrigen Industries said Monday it is considering building a $1.2 billion plant on the west bank of St. Charles Parish, La. Feasibility studies have begun, and the company said it expects to make its final investment decision during the first quarter of 2015.

"We have been very pleased with the support we have received from the state of Louisiana and from St. Charles Parish, GNO Inc. and the Port of South Louisiana," chief executive Mark VandeVoorde said. The Delaware-registered AM Agirgen Industries has secured options to buy 650 acres near Killona and started the process for filing for environmental permits.

May 22, 2014
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Grantville, Pa., United States

May 29-31, 2014
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., United States

June 8-13, 2014

June 12, 2014
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W. Va., United States

June 15-20, 2014