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Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60

§903 Field Offices

Title 30 › Chapter 22— MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH › Subchapter IV— BLACK LUNG BENEFITS › Part A— General Provisions › § 903

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Labor must set up and run local offices to help miners and their survivors file and process claims under this part of the law. The offices should be reasonably easy for miners and survivors to get to when possible. The Secretary may make agreements with federal or state agencies to use their buildings and staff if separate offices aren’t practical. Congress may provide whatever money is needed to pay for these offices.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §903

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Labor shall establish and operate such field offices as may be necessary to assist miners and survivors of miners in the filing and processing of claims under this subchapter. Such field offices shall, to the extent feasible, be reasonably accessible to such miners and survivors. The Secretary, in connection with the establishment and operation of field offices, may enter into arrangements with other Federal departments and agencies, and with State agencies, for the use of existing facilities operated by such departments and agencies. Where the establishment of separate facilities is not feasible the Secretary may enter into such arrangements as he deems necessary with the heads of Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities and with State agencies for the use of existing facilities and personnel under their control.
(b)There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of subsection (a) such sums as may be necessary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977, and not as part of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 which comprises this chapter or the Black Lung Benefits Act which comprises this subchapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Mar. 1, 1978, see section 20(a) of Pub. L. 95–239, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment note under section 901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 903

Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60