Monthly Archives: March 2019

“United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced the charging of an additional former supervisor and safety official from Armstrong Coal, in addition to the eight previous officials charged by a federal grand jury, for conspiracy to defraud an agency of the United States government by deceit, trickery, and dishonest means. ” Read more below in the US DOLs News release: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/msha/msha20190227

Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has announced that more than $291 million in funds will be distributed to states and tribes in an effort to eliminate dangerous conditions and pollution caused by former coal mining. The most allocated will be going to Wyoming, who is receiving $87,833,889. Click below for the US Department of the Interiors News Release. https://www.osmre.gov/resources/newsroom/News/2019/031919_AMLdistribution.pdf Click below to see an article on it pertaining to IN. https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/indiana-gets-8.1m-to-clean,-repurpose-old-coal-mines.php

Congress established the Black Lung trust fund in 1978. The tax rate used to fund it expired on Dec. 31, 2018, and has since been cut in half, leaving many beneficiaries uncertain of what will happen next. Below are links to articles regarding the current state of federal Black Lung funding. AP News Break: Congress’ Inaction Endangers Black Lung Fund NY Times: With Black Lung Fund in Jeopardy, Taxpayers Could Fit the Bill KHN: Expected Shortfalls For Black Lung Fund Will Be Covered By Taxpayers Instead Of Coal Companies