This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Cutler Cleveland
Under the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act of 1952, the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977 and Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of 1977 were enacted in response to substantial numbers of U.S. coal miners becoming completely disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease).
The disease had caused many deaths but at the time only a few states provided benefits for disability or death to coal miners or their surviving dependents. The US Congress decided to provide benefits, in cooperation with states, to coal miners who were disabled from pneumoconiosis. The Reform Act provided benefit payments to coal miners who were completely disabled from pneumoconiosis and the Revenue Act established a requirement that operators of coal mines pay benefits to miners who have contracted black lung disease. The funds designated for disabled coal mine workers were placed in the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Additional amendments followed in 1981; these covered internal revenue codes and taxes, as well as the Black Lung Regulations Act in 2000, which provided stringent guidelines for medical claims.
Robyn Kenney (Lead Author);Cutler Cleveland (Topic Editor) "Black Lung Benefits Reform Act, United States". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 4, 2008; Last revised Date September 4, 2008; Retrieved May 24, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Black_Lung_Benefits_Reform_Act,_United_States>
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The Encyclopedia of Earth Robyn Kenney graduated from Boston University with a BA in Environmental Science in 2002 and a MA in Energy and Environmental Analysis in 2007. As an undergraduate she was active as the President of the Environmental Student Organization for two years. She coordinated awareness efforts throughout campus and established open communication lines between students, BU staff & administrators to undertake a collaborative step towards improving recycling on ca ... (Full Bio)
Under the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act of 1952, the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977 and Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of 1977 were enacted in response to substantial numbers of U.S. coal miners becoming completely disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease).
The disease had caused many deaths but at the time only a few states provided benefits for disability or death to coal miners or their surviving dependents. The US Congress decided to provide benefits, in cooperation with states, to coal miners who were disabled from pneumoconiosis. The Reform Act provided benefit payments to coal miners who were completely disabled from pneumoconiosis and the Revenue Act established a requirement that operators of coal mines pay benefits to miners who have contracted black lung disease. The funds designated for disabled coal mine workers were placed in the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Additional amendments followed in 1981; these covered internal revenue codes and taxes, as well as the Black Lung Regulations Act in 2000, which provided stringent guidelines for medical claims.
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