As coal collapses, the industry is leaving behind thousands of acres of mined lands in various states of environmental destruction. A new report seeks to understand the scope of the problem and outline potential solutions. [ Read More ]
A new wave of abandoned coal mines?
Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | No Comments
New Tennessee law is a giveaway for coal companies
Monday, July 26th, 2021 | Posted by Matt Hepler | No Comments
A new Tennessee law that changes the way surface mining is regulated in the state will force Tennessee taxpayers to prop up the industry and make it easier for coal operators to walk away from mine reclamation. [ Read More ]
The greenwashing of the Mountain Valley Pipeline
Friday, July 16th, 2021 | Posted by Front Porch Blog | No Comments
The developers of the climate-catastrophe that is the Mountain Valley Pipeline proudly announced a deal to offset the project's carbon emissions. Don't be fooled. [ Read More ]
A bond forfeiture, unpaid fines, and a no-show: one month in the life of a Jim Justice family coal mine
Friday, July 9th, 2021 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
As a Virginia mine continues to rack up environmental and safety problems, state regulators are proceeding with their strongest enforcement option — bond forfeiture. Based on the track record of related Justice family companies, the situation is not likely to improve. [ Read More ]
Enforcement of mine cleanup rules is needed to protect communities, create jobs
Wednesday, June 30th, 2021 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
During a recent House Natural Resources hearing on the issue of sluggish, inadequate, or totally non-existent reclamation on currently permitted coal mines, community advocates called for federal regulators to firmly enforce existing regulations and act in the public interest. [ Read More ]
Collapse of the coal industry: Problems and recommendations
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Coal mine regulations have not kept up with the industry's collapse, leaving regulators without the money – or the legal tools – to address growing problems of scarred landscapes and polluted waters. [ Read More ]
Google Earth teams up with Appalachian Voices
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Appalachian Voices teamed up with Google Earth on a video to show how the search engine's satellite imagery helps us protect the environment. [ Read More ]
Court rules that coal mines need a permit for water pollution from valley fills
Thursday, May 20th, 2021 | Posted by Matt Hepler | No Comments
Good news for clean water! Despite a setback in appeals court, overall the Red River Coal Company court ruling will help communities fight back against pollution from mountaintop removal coal mines. [ Read More ]
Coal communities and mine cleanup at the center of federal and grassroots efforts
Thursday, May 13th, 2021 | Posted by Katie Moody | No Comments
With bills on the Hill, proposals from the White House, new reports issued and forthcoming from grassroots advocates, and new projects underway, there is a lot happening when it comes to coal communities and mine cleanup! [ Read More ]
The need for full AML reauthorization and more
Wednesday, April 28th, 2021 | Posted by Guest Contributor | No Comments
Guest blogger Rebecca Shelton explains why politicians need to be focusing on investing more in coal communities, not less. Congress needs to pass Rep. Cartwright's abandoned mine lands bills. Rep. Cheney's bill, which would shortchange coal communities by slicing the fee, is unacceptable. [ Read More ]
Virginia regulators poised to grant mining permits to questionable company
Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
As companies go bankrupt, they tend to pass off their mine mining permits — and the responsibility to reclaim them — to increasingly questionable entities. This is currently unfolding in Southwest Virginia, if the state mining agency allows it.
[ Read More ]
Covid’s impact on coal sharpens the pandemic’s economic hardships
Friday, August 21st, 2020 | Posted by Matt Hepler | No Comments
Even before the pandemic, a growing number of coal companies were declaring bankruptcy — and now the decades-long decline of coal is in a nosedive. This will leave already-shortchanged coalfield communities even less money to deal with decades of damage to people's health and the environment. [ Read More ]
