Expected Shortfalls For Black Lung Fund Will Be Covered By Taxpayers Instead Of Coal Companies

In January, the tax rate coal companies pay to support the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund was cut in half, leaving sick miners and their advocates fearing future benefit cuts from a fund that is already about some $4 billion in debt. The Department of Labor said in a statement Wednesday that it is obligated to continue paying benefits to sick miners, so a shortfall would be covered by borrowing from taxpayers. In other environmental health news: unsafe drinking water, manufacturing industry's lingering effects on health, coal ash and more.

from Kaiser Health News https://ift.tt/2FqbpVE