Mississippi § 57-55-9 - Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute established; functions and duties.

§ 57-55-9. Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute established; functions and duties.

The Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, hereinafter referred to as MMRI, is hereby established. The MMRI shall be under the management and control of the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning. The principal offices of the MMRI shall be located at the University of Mississippi. The MMRI shall be organized to coordinate mining and mineral research, planning and development with the appropriate disciplines in other institutions of higher learning and other state, federal and private agencies concerned with the development and conservation of the mineral resources of the state. It shall be the function and duties of the MMRI to: Conduct basic and applied research for the development and conservation of mineral resources, including but not limited to mining, land reclamation and disposal of waste material; Assist and support mining and mineral related research programs at the various institutions of higher learning; Assist and consult with state and local agencies in planning the development and conservation of mineral resources; Maintain liaison with private industry and appropriate state and local agencies to promote industrial development and conservation of mineral resources and plan, initiate and maintain a program of cooperative training between private industry and the academic and technical institutions of the state; Disseminate new information and facilitate transfer and application of new technologies as they are developed; and Negotiate and administer contracts with private, local, regional, state and federal agencies.