HOWARD BERKES:

It's illegal, but miners widely believe it. Every single miner I've talked to in Appalachia in the last five years has said the same thing. What they fear is just even going to the NIOSH Vans that come into their communities with x-ray equipments and being seen going into the vans, just that could cause the mining company to say this guy might have black lung.

And mining — the last mining company you worked for is the mining company that saddled with your black lung benefits and your healthcare. And so, you could have worked for another mining company for 20 years, but if you worked for the last one for a year, they're the ones that pay. And so, miners believe that if the mining company finds out, they'll lose their jobs, so they don't get tested.