PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Mine operators must not fire or treat a miner worse because the miner has pneumoconiosis. No one may try to make an operator do that. The word "miner" here does not include someone who has been found to be totally disabled. If a miner or the miner’s representative thinks this happened, they can ask the Secretary to review it within 90 days. A copy of the request goes to the person accused. The Secretary will investigate and can hold a public hearing if any party asks. Parties must get written notice at least five days before the hearing. The hearing will be on the record and follow federal administrative hearing rules. After the investigation, the Secretary will decide. If a violation is found, the Secretary can order fixes, like rehiring and back pay. If the miner wins, the violator must pay the miner’s reasonable costs and attorney fees.

Title 30, §938

Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Mine operators

No operator shall discharge or in any other way discriminate against any miner employed by him by reason of the fact that such miner is suffering from pneumoconiosis. No person shall cause or attempt to cause an operator to violate this section. For the purposes of this subsection the term “miner” shall not include any person who has been found to be totally disabled.

(b)Determination by Secretary; procedure

Any miner who believes that he has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or any representative of such miner may, within ninety days after such violation occurs, apply to the Secretary for a review of such alleged discharge or discrimination. A copy of the application shall be sent to such person who shall be the respondent. Upon receipt of such application, the Secretary shall cause such investigation to be made as he deems appropriate. Such investigation shall provide an opportunity for a public hearing at the request of any party to enable the parties to present information relating to such violation. The parties shall be given written notice of the time and place of the hearing at least five days prior to the hearing. Any such hearing shall be of record and shall be subject to section 554 of title 5. Each administrative law judge presiding under this section and under the provisions of subchapters I, II and III of this chapter shall receive compensation at a rate determined under section 5372 of title 5. Upon receiving the report of such investigation, the Secretary shall make findings of fact. If he finds that such violation did occur, he shall issue a decision, incorporating an order therein, requiring the person committing such violation to take such affirmative action as the Secretary deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the rehiring or reinstatement of the miner to his former position with back pay. If he finds that there was no such violation, he shall issue an order denying the application. Such order shall incorporate the Secretary’s findings therein.

(c)Costs and penalties

Whenever an order is issued under this subsection granting relief to a miner at the request of such miner, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses (including the attorney’s fees) as determined by the Secretary to have been reasonably incurred by such miner for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such proceedings, shall be assessed against the person committing the violation.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–509 amended seventh sentence generally, substituting “determined under section 5372 of title 5” for “not less than that prescribed for GS–16 under section 5332 of title 5”. 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–251 substituted “administrative law judge” for “hearing examiner”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–509 effective on such date as the President shall determine, but not earlier than 90 days, and not later than 180 days, after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 529 [title III, § 305] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out as a note under section 5301 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§938 Miners Suffering From Pneumoconiosis; Discrimination Prohibited