Carbon County has a long history in coal mining.

For hundreds of years, the region, which is known as the Coal Region, has been a large source of anthracite coal to heat homes, power operations and create jobs for area residents.

But with mining operations comes risk. For years when mining included digging deep holes into the earth to get to the coal veins, risks included gas poisoning, cave-ins and falls. Today, as strip mining operations have replaced deep mining, the risks have changed.

However, one risk that all miners, past and present, still face is black lung disease — an incurable and fatal disease caused by being exposed to coal and silica dust.

The Carbon County Commissioners last week, took a stand by signing a resolution urging U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, as well as U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie to support their constituents and vote for legislation that would assist disabled miners and increase monthly black lung benefit rates.

The county cited Carbon’s rich history in the mining industry, highlighting the generations of miners that have lived and worked here and how many of them suffered from black lung disease.

“Thousands of coal miners disabled by black lung disease and their dependents rely on federal black lung benefits including, in 2024, 1,471 Pennsylvanians, of which 30 claimants reside in Carbon County,” the resolution states.

“Federal benefits provided to residents in Carbon County delivered an estimated $679,723.82 in disability and medical benefits in 2024, providing an important and financial lifeline to affected families and supporting the local economy through spending at local businesses and medical facilities.”

The commissioners noted that the black lung benefit payments have been declining over the last 30 years as they are not tied to cost of living increases or inflation.

“A living wage Carbon County is four times the amount of what is provided by federal black lung benefit rates. The citizens of Carbon County are concerned about the general welfare of our mining families, specifically the impacts of rising inflation and believe that our miners deserve to live their lives with dignity,” the resolution states.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Black Lung benefit rates for 2025, which are set under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, are $785.70 a month for a primary beneficiary and increases on a sliding scale for dependents.