(a) The Secretary of Labor shall establish and operate such
field offices as may be necessary to assist miners and survivors
of miners in the filing and processing of claims under this
subchapter. Such field offices shall, to the extent feasible, be
reasonably accessible to such miners and survivors. The
Secretary, in connection with the establishment and operation of
field offices, may enter into arrangements with other Federal
departments and agencies, and with State agencies, for the use of
existing facilities operated by such departments and agencies.
Where the establishment of separate facilities is not feasible
the Secretary may enter into such arrangements as he deems
necessary with the heads of Federal departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities and with State agencies for the use of existing
facilities and personnel under their control.
(b) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes
of subsection (a) of this section such sums as may be necessary.
