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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9202290115
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

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BILL WOULD AID EX-MINERS FROM COAL TAX

Endangered health benefits for retired union coal miners would receive a boost under a bill introduced Friday to transfer money from an abandoned-mine reclamation fund, Rep. Nick Rahall said.

Rahall, D-W.Va., said his bill would require a portion of revenues from an existing coal tax to be deposited into a retiree benefit fund. The tax, assessed on every ton of coal mined, now finances the reclamation of abandoned coal mine lands.

The reclamation tax is scheduled to expire in 1995. Rahall's bill would extend collections through 2007.

Two United Mine Workers health funds provide benefits for 120,000 retired miners or their dependents have a deficit estimated at $100 million.

Officials said they are on the verge of collapsing because of increasing costs and declining numbers of companies willing to contribute. - Associated Press

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