A federal rule designed to cut coal miners' exposure to silica dust and slow the surge in black lung cases has been delayed again, pushing enforcement to at least October as industry opposition and legal challenges continue.
Caity Coyne reports for West Virginia Watch.
In short:
- The silica dust rule, finalized in 2024 to protect coal miners, has been delayed multiple times following court challenges and is now on hold until at least October 17.
- The rule would halve silica dust limits in coal mines, trigger monitoring when levels rise, and mandate free medical screenings for workers to detect black lung early.
- Advocates and healthcare providers warn the delay leaves miners unprotected as black lung cases rise, particularly among younger workers exposed to high-silica rock.
Key quote:
“We were crossing a finish line, we were about to win the race, right? And in that last stretch, the wind is just totally out of our sails. It’s hard not to be upset about that.”
— Lisa Emery, chair of the National Coalition of Black Lung and Respiratory Disease Clinics
Why this matters:
Black lung disease, once seen as a relic of a dirtier industrial past, is now hitting coal miners at younger ages and with greater severity, driven by exposure to silica dust from cutting through sandstone to reach remaining coal seams. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in five Central Appalachian miners now suffers from black lung — the highest rate in decades. Silica dust causes irreversible lung damage, and there is no cure. As the Trump administration slows enforcement of a long-awaited silica dust rule, more miners are left vulnerable to a disease that strips away their health, independence, and years of life. Despite decades of scientific evidence and widespread consensus on the health risks, regulatory rollbacks and industry influence continue to override public health protections for workers underground.
Learn more: Black lung disease spreads among younger miners as federal support fades
