1240-AA07 201210 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1240 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs OWCP 1200 Department of Labor DOL Black Lung Benefits Act: Standards for Chest Radiographs Physicians use chest radiographs (X-rays) as a tool in evaluating whether a miner suffers from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease). Accordingly, the Department's regulations implementing the Black Lung Benefits Act allow submission of radiographs and set out quality standards for their performance. These standards, which were last revised in 1983, currently address only film radiographs. Since their promulgation, many medical facilities have phased out the film radiography in favor of digital radiography. This rule will update the existing film-radiography standards and provide parallel standards for digital radiographs. Substantive, Nonsignificant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 20 CFR 718 30 USC 902(f) 30 USC 921(b) 30 USC 923(b) 30 USC 936(a) No NPRM 10/00/2013 Direct Final Rule 10/00/2013 Undetermined None No No No Steven Breeskin D. 1240 Office of Workers' Compensation Programs OWCP 202 693-0824 202 693-1395 breeskin.steven@dol.gov 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-3464, Washington DC 20210