Ken Ward Jr., writing on the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette‘s Coal Tattoo blog, notes that black lung disease is once again on the rise in Appalachian coal country, and has been steadily climbing since the late ’90s.
Photo by wallyg via Flickr
Ward notes that a federal appeals court has shut down a miner’s attempt to get it to force tighter coal dust regulations upon the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, and says the onus is now upon the MSHA to curb the black lung comeback.
According to the administration, it may take until 2011 to write new regulations and Obama’s nominee to lead the MSHA, union veteran Joe Main, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
