Miller Comments on New Rule to Help Prevent Black Lung Disease by Reducing Exposure to Coal Mine Dust
WASHINGTON—Today Congressman George Miller, senior Democrat on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, provided the following comment on new rules issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to control coal mine dust and reduce exposure, helping protect miners’ health and lives through the prevention of black lung disease:
“While black lung rates have dropped dramatically for miners who began mining after the passage of Coal Act in 1969, there has been a resurgence of coal miners, particularly younger miners, contracting this irreversible and potentially deadly disease from exposure to coal dust. The final rule that MSHA just issued is designed to further the legislative goal of eliminating black lung by establishing more effective requirements to control coal mine dust and reduce miner exposures. By closing loopholes that allow mine operators to underestimate actual miner exposures, requiring the use of real-time dust monitoring devices, reducing the allowable dust levels, and requiring that miners receive access to lung function tests, this rule will help better protect miners’ health.
“While concerns have been raised about feasibility, the availability of improved technology and the phase-in compliance period provide mine operators with time to secure equipment and implement new procedures to improve miner protections. I am also encouraged by MSHA’s commitment to working with stakeholders to provide extensive compliance assistance and to resolve any implementation issues.
“At its core, the rule provides miners and operators with the tools they need to control dust levels and help end the scourge of black lung disease. Successful implementation of this new rule is a challenge that operators, miners, and the government must all work together to meet.”
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