UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-2430
NEAL BLANKENSHIP,
Petitioner,
versus
ISLAND CREEK COAL COMPANY; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
Respondents.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Benefits Review Board.
(99-1194-BLA, 99-1194-BLA-A, 98-1011-BLA)
Submitted: April 10, 2001 Decided: May 18, 2001
Before WIDENER, LUTTIG, and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges.
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Neal Blankenship, Petitioner Pro Se. Martin Ellison Hall, JACKSON
& KELLY, Lexington, Kentucky; Patricia May Nece, Jeffrey Steven
Goldberg, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Washington, D.C., for
Respondents.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Neal Blankenship seeks review of the Benefits Review Board’s
decision and order affirming the administrative law judge’s denial
of black lung benefits pursuant to 30 U.S.C.A. §§ 901-945 (West
1986 & Supp. 2000). Our review of the record discloses that the
Board’s decision is based upon substantial evidence and is without
reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm on the reasoning of the
Board.* See Blankenship v. Island Creek Coal Co., Nos. 99-1194-
BLA; 99-1194-BLA-A; 98-1011-BLA (Oct. 31, 2000). We dispense with
oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequate-
ly presented in the materials before the court and argument would
not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
*
We have considered the recent revisions to the regulations
implementing the Black Lung Benefits Act, see Regulations Imple-
menting the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as
amended; 65 Fed. Reg. 79,919 (December 20, 2000), and have deter-
mined that the revisions do not affect the outcome of this case.
2