Regulations aimed at preventing pneumoconiosis in miners could result in removal of funding

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — The United Mine Workers of America Union (UMWA) has spoken out against a budget provision approved by a U.S. House subcommittee that would cut funding for a regulation aimed at preventing pneumoconiosis in miners.

In April, the Labor Department introduced a rule that would enforce stricter safety requirements and seek to cut in half the amount of toxic silica dust allowed in mines. But a House Republican-led subcommittee has proposed withholding funding for the rule, effectively making it unenforceable.

After regulations tightened in the 1970s, cases of black lung began to decline, according to the National Library of Medicine. That trend has since abruptly reversed, with the number of cases of black lung doubling since the late 20th century, with some miners developing the disease as young as 30.

Medical studies attribute the sudden change to silica dust, which is more toxic than the coal dust miners were exposed to in the past. Because mines cut through more rock to get to less accessible coal, miners were more exposed to silica dust and therefore more susceptible to black lung.

“This is an issue that should have been addressed a decade ago, and it took this long to finally finalize the legislation, and now steps are being taken to prevent funding for this project,” said Erin Bates, UMWA communications director.

No one on the subcommittee commented on the rationale behind the proposal, but for Gary Hairston, a former coal miner with pneumoconiosis and president of the National Lung Association, the issue is personal.

“I think they’re more concerned about the companies and them than they are about the coal miners. They say they’re for us, but I don’t think they’ve proven they’re for us,” Hairston said.

The finance bill will be referred to the full House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on July 10.