WASHINGTON (WV News) — More than 80 coal miners, members of Black Lung Associations, and other supporters rallied outside the Department of Labor building in Washington on Monday to protest delays in implementing new silica dust protections for coal miners. The group also protested funding and staffing cuts to mine safety and research programs.

The protest focused on a final silica dust rule, which was intended to protect coal and other miners from exposure, a significant factor in the rise of severe black lung disease. While the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) finalized the rule in April 2024, it is currently under a court stay due to litigation from the mining industry. The rule was originally set to go into effect in April 2025, but the litigation continues to block the pr

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