In April, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the final version of a rule meant to protect coal miners from respirable silica. The announcement was a long time coming.
Blog Archives
Rule to protect miners from silica falls short
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association national institute for occupational safety and health silica dust silica rule
Appalachian Voices sees a missed opportunity with new rule to protect miners from black lung disease
Yesterday the Biden administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that it finalized a rule to protect miners from respirable silica — a significant driver of the resurgence of black lung disease in Central Appalachia.
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association silica dust silica rule
What the government spending fight means for Appalachia
Leaders in the Senate and the House need to come together to negotiate a final deal in order to keep the government funded. Appalachian Voices will keep fighting to fund these crucial programs and agencies to help protect coal mining communities and transition to clean energy.
TAGS: Americorps appropriations Black Lung Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program Economic Development Administration Fiscal Responsibility Act government shutdown Letcher County Prison Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration mountain valley pipeline rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Advocates in coal communities urge Congress to prevent “enormous step backwards” by rejecting harmful appropriations bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2023 Contact: Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 VIEW THE LETTERS: House & Senate COAL COUNTRY — Leaders and advocates from across coal country sounded the alarm today, warning Congress that harsh cuts in proposed…
TAGS: Americorps Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative appropriations Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program economic development Economic Development Administration Empowering Rural America Program Low Income Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Miners, advocates voice their concerns about MSHA’s proposed silica rule
Coal miners and black lung advocates filled several back rows of the auditorium at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy just outside of Beckley, West Virginia, on the morning of Aug. 10th to provide comments on the agency’s draft rule to protect miners from respirable silica dust.
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association silica dust silica rule
Upcoming public hearings should highlight weaknesses of new silica rule proposal
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is planning three hybrid hearings on its proposed rule to strengthen silica exposure standards for coal miners. These hearings will give miners and their advocates an opportunity to point out some of the weaknesses of the proposal.
Advocates, coal miners applaud progress towards new silica dust rule
Today, the Biden Administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a long-delayed draft rule to protect coal miners from exposure to respirable silica — the principal cause of the resurgence of deadly black lung disease.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association ReImagine Appalachia silica dust
35 Organizations endorse congressional appropriations roadmap to spur coal community economic development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2023 Contact: Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 READ THE LETTERS HERE: Senate Letter and House Letter COAL COUNTRY – Local, regional and national leaders representing 35 organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders today…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands economic revitalization program Alliance for Appalachia Americorps appropriations bipartisan infrastructure law Chips and Science Act community and economic development Congress Friends For Environmental Justice Inflation Reduction Act Mine Safety and Health Administration Office of Suface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Regulators Poised to Update Miners’ Protections from Silica Dust
Expected new silica dust regulations in mines could combat the rise of black lung disease. However, the effects of an ongoing federal silica enforcement initiative remain unclear.
TAGS: black lung disease coal miners Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association silica dust
Appalachian Voices urges Congress to pass Biden’s proposed investments in Appalachian coalfields
Today, President Joe Biden released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget to fund government programs through September 2024. The budget proposal includes crucial investments in programs to boost economic growth in the coalfields, ensure coal mine reclamation and protect miners from black lung disease.
TAGS: 118th Congress abandoned mine lands economic revitalization program coalfields mine reclamation Mine Safety and Health Administration President Joe Biden RECOMPETE program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
