Case Name: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1105, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Edward Yakubco, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1106, v. ALLEGHENY RIVER MINING COMPANY, Old Republic Companies, and Bertha Ruston (Widow of Samuel Ruston), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1107, v. CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY and Josephine Paulian (Widow of Dawton Paulian), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1108, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Andrew Bordas, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1109, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Mike Mrosko, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1110, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Jennie M. Sabatini (Widow of Michael Sabatini), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1111, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Julia C. Ward (Widow of Donald V. Charlton), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1309, v. BELTRAMI ENTERPRISES, INC. and Lackawanna Casualty Company and Alice Houston (Widow of Daniel Houston), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1310, v. BETHLEHEM MINES CORPORATION and Edna M. Fye (Widow of Merle Fye), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1311, v. DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY and George Jenkins, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1312, v. NATIONAL MINES CORPORATION and Old Republic Companies and James Gehron, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1313, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Louise Solomon (Widow of George Solomon), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1314, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Hazel Oberlitner (Widow of Frank J. Oberlitner), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1315, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and William J. Kozakiewicz, Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1320, v. BENJAMIN COAL COMPANY and Old Republic Insurance Company and Edith Biss (Widow of Harry Biss), Respondents; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1321, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Joseph Venick, Respondents
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1981-10-23
Citations: 663 F.2d 8
Docket Number: Nos. 81-1105 to 81-1111, 81-1309 to 81-1315 and 81-1320, 81-1321
Parties: DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1105, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Edward Yakubco, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1106, v. ALLEGHENY RIVER MINING COMPANY, Old Republic Companies, and Bertha Ruston (Widow of Samuel Ruston), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1107, v. CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY and Josephine Paulian (Widow of Dawton Paulian), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1108, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Andrew Bordas, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1109, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Mike Mrosko, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1110, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Jennie M. Sabatini (Widow of Michael Sabatini), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1111, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Julia C. Ward (Widow of Donald V. Charlton), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1309, v. BELTRAMI ENTERPRISES, INC. and Lackawanna Casualty Company and Alice Houston (Widow of Daniel Houston), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1310, v. BETHLEHEM MINES CORPORATION and Edna M. Fye (Widow of Merle Fye), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1311, v. DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY and George Jenkins, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1312, v. NATIONAL MINES CORPORATION and Old Republic Companies and James Gehron, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNIT ED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1313, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Louise Solomon (Widow of George Solomon), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1314, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Hazel Oberlitner (Widow of Frank J. Oberlitner), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1315, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and William J. Kozakiewicz, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1320, v. BENJAMIN COAL COMPANY and Old Republic Insurance Company and Edith Biss (Widow of Harry Biss), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1321, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Joseph Venick, Respondents.
Judges: Before ALDISERT, HIGGINBOTHAM and SLOVITER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 2d Series
Volume: 663
Pages: 8–13

Head Matter:
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1105, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Edward Yakubco, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1106, v. ALLEGHENY RIVER MINING COMPANY, Old Republic Companies, and Bertha Ruston (Widow of Samuel Ruston), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1107, v. CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY and Josephine Paulian (Widow of Dawton Paulian), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1108, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Andrew Bordas, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1109, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Mike Mrosko, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1110, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Jennie M. Sabatini (Widow of Michael Sabatini), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1111, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Julia C. Ward (Widow of Donald V. Charlton), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1309, v. BELTRAMI ENTERPRISES, INC. and Lackawanna Casualty Company and Alice Houston (Widow of Daniel Houston), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1310, v. BETHLEHEM MINES CORPORATION and Edna M. Fye (Widow of Merle Fye), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1311, v. DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY and George Jenkins, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1312, v. NATIONAL MINES CORPORATION and Old Republic Companies and James Gehron, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNIT ED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1313, v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION and Louise Solomon (Widow of George Solomon), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1314, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Hazel Oberlitner (Widow of Frank J. Oberlitner), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1315, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and William J. Kozakiewicz, Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1320, v. BENJAMIN COAL COMPANY and Old Republic Insurance Company and Edith Biss (Widow of Harry Biss), Respondents. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Petitioner in No. 81-1321, v. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION and Joseph Venick, Respondents.
Nos. 81-1105 to 81-1111, 81-1309 to 81-1315 and 81-1320, 81-1321.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Argued Sept. 25, 1981.
Decided Oct. 23, 1981.
Rehearing and Rehearing In Banc Denied Dec. 11, 1981.
Denise Butler Harty, (argued), T. Timothy Ryan, Jr., Sol. of Labor, Virginia B. Ragle, Acting Asst. Co-Counsel for Black Lung Benefits, Donald S. Shire, Associate Sol., Judith E. Wolf, Co-Counsel for Black Lung Benefits, Laurie M. Streeter, Associate Sol., Cornelius S. Donoghue, Jr., Acting Associate Sol., Judith E. Kramer, Co-Counsel for Black Lung Benefits, U. S. Dept, of Labor, Washington, D. C., for petitioner.
Margaret D. Blough (argued), Ronald J. Zera, United Mine Workers of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., for respondents Eld ward Yakubco in No. 81-1105; Josephine Paulian in No. 81-1107; Andrew Bordas in No. 81- 1108; Hazel Oberlitner in No. 81-1314; William J. Kozakiewicz in No. 81 — 1315; Joseph Veniek in No. 81-1321.
Edward A. McFarland (argued), Thomson, Rhodes & Grigsby, Pittsburgh, Pa., for respondent Republic Steel Corp. at Nos. 81— 1105, 81-1108, 81-1314, 81-1315, 81-1321.
Mark E. Solomons, John L. Kilcullen, Kilcullen, Wilson & Kilcullen, Washington, D. C., for respondents Allegheny River Mining Company and Old Republic Companies at No. 81-1106, National Mines Corporation and Old Republic Companies at No. 81-1312, and Benjamin Coal Company and Old Republic Companies at No. 81 — 1320.
J. Randolph Query III, Jackson, Kelly, Holt & O’Farrell, Charleston, W. V., for respondent Consolidation Coal Co. at No. 81-1107.
James D. Strader, U. S. Steel Corp., Workers’ Compensation & Casualty, Pittsburgh, Pa., for respondent United States Steel Corporation at Nos. 81-1109, 81-1110, 81-1111, 81-1113.
Joseph P. Lenehan, Lenehan, Dempsey & Piazza, Scranton, Pa., for respondents Beltrami Enterprises Inc. and Lackawanna Casualty Co. at No. 81-1309.
John J. Bagnato, Robert G. Rose, Spence, Custer, Saylor, Wolfe & Rose, Johnstown, Pa., for respondent Bethlehem Mines Corp. at No. 81-1310.
Diane S. Eismont, Duquesne Light Co. Legal Dept., Pittsburgh, Pa., for respondent Duquesne Light Company at No. 81-1311.
John M. Elliott, Constance B. Foster, Lawrence G. McMichael, Alexandra D. Sandler, Philadelphia, Pa., for amicus curiae, Pennsylvania Coal Mining Association; Dilworth, Paxson, Kalish & Levy, Philadelphia, Pa., of counsel.
Before ALDISERT, HIGGINBOTHAM and SLOVITER, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
PER CURIAM.
This petition for review of Benefit Review Board decisions in sixteen related black lung benefits cases requires us to determine whether the Board correctly held that § 435 of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 945, does not require certain black lung benefit claims to be paid by individual coal operators. The claims in question were filed by miners or their survivors prior to July 1, 1973, and denied. Congress amended the Act in 1977 to permit reconsideration of the claims. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare reviewed and approved the renewed claims and certified them for payment to the Department of Labor. In all but one of the sixteen cases/ the presiding Department of Labor administrative law judges determined that the respective employers were liable for the payments.
On appeal, the Benefits Review Board held that the 1977 amendments do not modify an earlier statutory scheme that required individual employers to pay benefits only for claims filed after December 31, 1973. The Board concluded that the instant claims should be paid from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Yakubco v. Republic Steel Corp., [1980] 2 Black Lung Rep. 1 — 1116 (Matthew Bender). Petitioner, in the role of administrator of the Fund, invokes our jurisdiction under 33 U.S.C. § 921(c) (as incorporated by 30 U.S.C. § 932(a)) and challenges the Board's interpretation of § 435. We have examined the decisions of the Board and find no error in the Board's interpretation of the statute. Therefore, for the reasons set forth by the Benefits Review Board in Yakubco, the petition for review will be denied.