Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor v. Eastern Coal Corp.

EDWARDS, Circuit Judge.

These are consolidated appeals brought by the Director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs of the United States Department of Labor. The appeals are brought for and on behalf of the Secretary of Labor and two disabled coal miners who had been awarded benefits after administrative hearings under the Black Lung Benefits Act of 1972, 30 U.S.C. §§ 901-41 (Supp. V, 1975), amending 30 U.S.C. §§ 901-36 (1970). The Benefits are currently being paid by the Department of Labor, but the Department contends that respondent coal companies are liable for them.

The three…