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Black Pride, Summer At The Gorge, Silica Dust And Opioid Money, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll look at Black LGBTQ Pride in West Virginia. We’ll also hear how a federal agency regulates the nation’s pipelines, we’ll talk to a national park ranger about summer activities at the New River Gorge and more.

On this West Virginia Week, we’ll look at Black LGBTQ Pride in West Virginia. We’ll also hear how a federal agency regulates the nation’s pipelines and we’ll talk to a national park ranger about summer activities at the New River Gorge.

We’ll also discuss new rules to prevent black lung disease, a new role for the state’s solicitor general and how the state’s opioid settlement money will be spent.

Curtis Tate is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Changes To The FAFSA On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, is meant to help students access funds to pursue higher education. But as Chris Schulz reports, recent changes to the federal form have left students and schools scrambling for answers.

On this West Virginia Morning, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, is meant to help students access funds to pursue higher education. But as Chris Schulz reports, recent changes to the federal form have left students and schools scrambling for answers.

Also, in this show, a new federal silica dust rule is about to take effect. Monday, a panel of Black Lung experts expressed hope for the future of young miners — if they’re educated about their rights. Emily Rice has more.

A U.S. Senate committee approved West Virginia’s solicitor general Tuesday to serve as a federal energy regulator. Curtis Tate has the story.

And, new funding for Preston County aims to improve and expand local water access. Jack Walker reports.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Chris Schulz produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

MSHA Holds Panel Discussion As Silica Dust Rule Implementation Draws Closer

A new federal silica dust rule is about to take effect. Monday, a panel of Black Lung experts expressed hope for the future of young miners — if they’re educated about their rights.

Experts in black lung, mine safety, labor and employment law and physicians gathered at the Mine Health and Safety Administration’s (MSHA) office in Beaver on Monday to discuss a new silica dust rule that will take effect on June 17.

Coal producers will have 12 months to comply. Metal and nonmetal mine operators will have 24 months.

The panel discussion, moderated by Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson focused on the prevention of black lung in young miners and how the administration’s new silica dust rule can help if used by the miners.

“Everybody’s in this room because we care about this issue and we don’t want others to suffer from entirely preventable occupational lung diseases,” Williamson said.

MSHA issued its final rule lowering silica dust exposure for coal miners on April 16. This rule is a long-awaited change amid growing concern about black lung disease.

“When this rule finally comes into play and is implemented, it’ll be exciting to watch it unfold and see everyone’s health improve, but I don’t think that that’s going to happen right away,” Black Lung Clinic Director and respiratory therapist Lisa Emery said. “I hope that with … the dangers of silica coming out and being more publicized, that the miners will come in more often and get screened more often.”

The new rule lowers the maximum exposure to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air during an eight-hour shift. The current limit is 100 micrograms per cubic meter.

Respirable crystalline silica is a carcinogen. It can cause lung disease, silicosis, lung cancer, progressive massive fibrosis and kidney disease. Coal dust containing silica dust has been shown to increase the severity of black lung cases and affect miners in their 30s and 40s.

“I don’t want to see our younger miners going through what we are going through,” said National Black Lung Association President Gary Harrison, who also suffers from black lung. “And I know this silica dust rule is gonna help eventually. I know it will take a while for it to come in.”

The silica dust problem is thought to be caused by the mechanization of mining, especially in central Appalachia. Large machines grind through larger volumes of rock to maximize coal production.

Mine operators are supposed to ventilate mine work areas to lower the concentration of coal and rock dust, as well as methane.

Under the Part 90 regulation, coal miners who have already developed a pneumoconiosis can exercise rights that allow them to continue working in healthier parts of the mine.

“I’d like for the younger miners to start feeling more confident about speaking up, more confident about exercising their Part 90 rights,” Emery said. “That’s huge for me and our clinic, and I think that miners need to understand that the rights afforded to them under the mine act will protect them even if they’re not a Part 90 miner to make a safety complaint to talk about what’s going on in their mine and that MSHA is going to protect them. But what we’re seeing in the clinics is very scary.”

Grant Money

On Tuesday morning, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., announced that the state will receive $2,172,386 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health services and treatment programs for West Virginians suffering from Black Lung Disease.

“After their enormous sacrifices, West Virginia’s brave coal miners are entitled to the vital medical care and treatment they need,” Manchin said. “I’m pleased HHS is investing more than $2.1 million to support Black Lung clinics across West Virginia, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of the funding. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for resources to ensure all West Virginia miners can access the health care they deserve.”

The West Virginia Black Lung Clinics program is under the West Virginia Division of Primary Care, one of four divisions within the Office of Community Health Systems and Health Promotion, under the West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

MSHA Issues Final Rule To Lower Silica Dust Exposure In Mines

As expected, the new MSHA rule lowers the maximum exposure to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air during an eight-hour shift.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration issued its final rule lowering silica dust exposure for coal miners Tuesday, a long awaited change amid growing concern about black lung disease.

As expected, the new MSHA rule lowers the maximum exposure to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air during an eight-hour shift. The current limit is 100 micrograms per cubic meter.

The rule will take effect on June 17. Coal producers will have 12 months to comply. Metal and nonmetal mine operators will have 24 months.

The silica dust problem is thought to be caused by the mechanization of mining, especially in central Appalachia. Large machines grind through larger volumes of rock to maximize coal production.

Mine operators are supposed to ventilate mine work areas to lower the concentration of coal and rock dust, as well as methane.

Studies have shown in recent years that 1 in 5 miners in central Appalachia has black lung.

An investigation of the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine disaster in Raleigh County found that 17 of the 24 miners whose lung tissue could be sampled showed signs of black lung disease. A total of 29 miners died in the explosion, caused by a mixture of methane and coal dust.

MSHA rolled out the silica dust rule at an event Tuesday morning in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

U.S. senators from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, including Sen. Joe Manchin, praised the rule, though they had previously criticized the agency for delays to its implementation.

Read NPR’s coverage here.

U.S. Department Of Labor To Hold Black Lung Benefits Educational Events

West Virginians with black lung will have the opportunity to learn about eligibility for benefits at upcoming educational events.

Events held in Fairmont and Madison from March 19-21 will allow current and former coal miners suffering from black lung to get assistance with filing or refiling claims and receive eligibility information.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are currently 4,200 people receiving program benefits in West Virginia.

The events are hosted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program.

“The U.S. Department of Labor encourages current and former coal miners, and survivors in these areas to attend one of these events to learn more about eligibility for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act,” said Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation Director Mike Chance. “Attendees can get assistance with filing or refiling claims and get information on eligibility and the adjudication process.”

The events are open to the public and do not require preregistration to attend.

The events will be held as follows:

March 19 – Marion County Public Library, 321 Monroe Street, Fairmont, W.Va. from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
March 20 – Boone Madison Public Library, 375 Main Street, Madison, W.Va. from 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
March 21 – Boone Madison Public Library, 375 Main Street, Madison, W.Va. from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

For more information and assistance on submitting any bills for black lung related medical treatment, services or medical supplies, contact the Federal Black Lung Program at 1 (800) 347-2502.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.

Black Lung Compensation Falling Behind Inflation

Advocates report the monthly benefit rate for miners with Black Lung has not kept up with inflation.

The federal black lung benefits program was created in 1969 to pay for health care and provide monthly compensation to miners who could no longer work due to the disease.

Advocates like Quenton King, federal legislative specialist at Appalachian Voices, say that the stipend has not kept up with rising inflation.

“Aside from trying to prevent black lung, this is the main concern that coal miners with black lung have, is getting a simple stipend increase,” King said.

According to a new report from Appalachia Voices and Appalachia Citizens Law Center (ACLC), in 1969, a miner received $144.50 each month. Today, miners receive $773.00 a month, more than 30 percent less than the value of the original amount.

“Currently, the formula that they use to adjust the benefits annually is really silly,” King said. “It’s 37 percent of a level two federal employee’s monthly salary. We don’t know why that was chosen. But it doesn’t keep up with inflation.”

According to the ACLC, adjusting for inflation, the monthly stipend should equate to $1,172.61.

“The stipend is supposed to be able to help the family as a whole because it takes the whole family to take care of the coal miner, driving them to doctor’s appointments, and grocery shopping,” King said. “So the stipend is supposed to be a just way, better way to take care of families.”

In both the U.S. House and Senate, bills have been introduced called the Black Lung Improvement Act. House Resolution 6461 was introduced on Nov. 21, 2023.

“Coal miners broke their backs in the mines and power the nation,” King said. “Now they are unable to pay for groceries, or pay to live. This is getting some movement in Congress, and we’re really excited to see that.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.