UMWA applauds Black Lung Self-Insurance rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 16, 2024

UMWA applauds Black Lung Self-Insurance rule

[TRIANGLE, VA] Commenting on a final rule issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration requiring adequate security bonds to be posted by coal operators to cover their Black Lung benefit liabilities, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

"This is a long-overdue rule that will have a significant impact in helping to ensure benefits to miners who have contracted black lung will be paid, and be paid by those responsible - the coal companies.

"One of the many bad outcomes for workers of the recent wave of coal industry bankruptcies has been the ability of coal companies to use the bankruptcy process to be relieved of their unbonded liabilities to the Black Lung Trust Fund. More than $1 billion in such liabilities have already been shifted to the Trust Fund, accelerating its growing deficit. That means taxpayers are now picking up the tab for coal companies that did not adequately protect their workers from dangerous levels of respirable coal dust.

"Today, there is another $615 million in current and future black lung liability by self-insured operators. However, there is only $119 million in security (such as surety bond or other forms of collateral) for that liability. This rule will protect the Black Lung Trust Fund from any future self-insured coal operator bankruptcies, by requiring those operators to post collateral equal to 100% of their liabilities.

"This balanced rule is an important step forward in resolving the Black Lung Trust Fund's deficit problems. More needs to be done, starting with Congressional passage of the Black Lung Benefits Improvements Act.

"The burden of dealing with this always-fatal disease has for too long fallen on its victims. It's time to put the burden where it belongs - on the coal companies that ignored laws and regulations that are in place to keep mine workers safe and healthy."

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