The Front Porch Blog, with Updates from AppalachiaThe Front Porch Blog, with Updates from Appalachia

Fighting for clean water after the Stream Protection Rule

Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments

When Congress voted last week to overturn the Stream Protection Rule, people braced themselves for the coming impacts. But threats to public water from corporate and political interests are nothing new in Central Appalachia, nor is the problem unique to this area. In the face of these threats, communities fighting for clean water need our continued support. [ Read More ]


Gov. Cooper nominates new environmental secretary

Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed Michael Regan as the next secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. Regan pledged to develop greater transparency at the agency. That alone could signal a shift from the prior DEQ leadership’s approach to public engagement on environmental issues. [ Read More ]


Final Stream Protection Rule released

Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments

On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior released the Stream Protection Rule, which aims to protect streams from the impacts of surface and longwall mining. The final rule offers only modest improvements to protections for public waterways, but it is well worth defending from congressional attack. [ Read More ]


Trouble is afoot in NC special session

Thursday, December 15th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

After days of deflecting questions and refusing to explain their priorities for the “emergency session,” Republicans introduced a slew of bills that would make sweeping changes and dramatically shift the balance of power away from the governor. Take action to stop this blatant abuse of power. [ Read More ]


America’s miners deserve better than this; time to do your part

Thursday, December 8th, 2016 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments

America owes a debt to the nation’s coal miners. The Miners Protection Act would begin to pay that debt, but the opportunity for Congress to pass the bill is quickly slipping away. [ Read More ]


Rebukes, a resignation and more reasons to worry about coal ash in NC

Thursday, August 11th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment

Where does the war of words over coal ash health advisories leave North Carolinians with contaminated drinking water? Exactly where they were before: as distrustful of DEQ and DHHS as they are of their water’s safety. But in the battle between state employees and the McCrory administration, residents are clear on who they trust. [ Read More ]


New law puts coal ash progress in NC at risk

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | 1 Comment

The rushed introduction, concurrence and signing of North Carolina House Bill 630 puts at risk many aspects of the progress that residents and environmental groups have made since the introduction of the Coal Ash Management Act in 2014. [ Read More ]


An open letter to the North Carolina General Assembly

Monday, June 27th, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments

In an open letter addressed to North Carolina lawmakers by the Alliance of Carolinians Together (ACT) Against Coal Ash, citizens threatened by coal ash pollution call on decision makers to take urgent action to ensure coal ash is cleaned up and impacted communities have access to clean water. [ Read More ]


Coal ash controversy continues in North Carolina

Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | No Comments

In May, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality released risk rankings for Duke Energy’s coal ash impoundments across the state following 15 public hearings. But those rankings could still change and a newly revived legislative battle is a sign that the controversy over coal ash cleanup in North Carolina will continue. [ Read More ]


DEQ dodges legitimate coal-ash safety concerns

Thursday, May 19th, 2016 | Posted by Amy Adams | 1 Comment

Enabled by anti-regulatory powers in the legislature, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has abandoned the principles necessary to serve the public. It's time for lawmakers to acknowledge DEQ’s failures and focus on moving forward on coal ash cleanup. [ Read More ]


Drinking water problems still plague eastern Kentucky

Friday, May 6th, 2016 | Posted by Tarence Ray | 5 Comments

After a nearby creek ran bright yellow last month, residents of Martin County, Ky., still have questions for local and state officials — and that’s not uncommon in a county that has seen its fair share of coal slurry spills and municipal water problems. So why are so many officials ignoring the problem? [ Read More ]


Responding to “Appalachia’s Distress”

Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 2 Comments

Over the weekend, a letter by our Executive Director Tom Cormons to the editors of The New York Times appeared on the newspaper’s website. It was penned in part to stress the importance of the Stream Protection Rule and to urge federal regulators to stand firm in the face of industry opposition, and finalize it. [ Read More ]



 

 


Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube