EMPLOYEE HAS ONGOING PAIN IN HIS LOW BACK WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM EXPOSURE AT THE MINE AND MAY HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED ON 3/11/02. A MRI SHOWS DESSICATION (DEGENERATION) OF THE LUMBAR SPINE WITH DISC PROTRUSION. WE ARE REPORTING THIS AS AN OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THIS DISEASE.