Communities across Central Appalachia welcome a bill introduced today by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.. The bill includes specific requirements for how quickly coal mine reclamation must be completed following coal removal.
Blog Archives
Community groups praise Beyer bill to ensure timely coal mine cleanup
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Kiva Institute mine reclamation ReImagine Appalachia Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act U.S. Rep. Don Beyer. zombie mines zombie mines
Community advocates welcome Cartwright’s new legislation to fight zombie mine crisis
Community advocates from across Pennsylvania and Appalachia celebrated the introduction of two bills by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Penn., that would take crucial action to address some of the root causes of the “zombie mine” crisis — the increasing number of non-producing modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the coal companies responsible for operating them.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center mine reclamation Mountain Watershed Association Pennfuture Rep. Matt Cartwright Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act The Citizens Coal Council zombie mines
SWVA advocates urge Congress to fight for investments to tackle growing black lung crisis
With coal miners in Southwestern Virginia facing an epidemic as black lung disease hits unprecedented levels and 1 in 5 veteran coal miners in Central Appalachia now suffer from the disease, advocates today called on Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Sens. Warner and Kaine, D-Va. to prioritize investments in taking care of miners in the 2025 federal budget.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act National Black Lung Association Rep. Morgan Griffith
Coal community advocates bash cuts to federal mine reclamation funding and urge restoration in FY25 budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2024 CONTACT Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 READ LETTER HERE COAL COUNTRY – As Congress advances a government funding bill that slashes millions in funding for the agency charged with supporting critical mine reclamation…
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center mine reclamation U.S. Congress U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement zombie mines
Advocates release policy platform to give Congress a plan to stop zombie mines
Today, advocates from across coal-mining communities released a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center mine reclamation modern mines Western Organization of Resource Councils zombie mines
PRESS ADVISORY: Advocates to release policy platform to stop zombie mines
On Feb. 15, advocates from across coal-mining communities will unveil a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies. Endorsed by 48 community and national organizations, the policy platform will offer an array of new recommended solutions to thwart the continued zombie mine crisis.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center mine reclamation modern mines Western Organization of Resource Councils zombie mines
NEW analysis: Black lung benefits fall dramatically behind cost of living for sick miners and their families
A new analysis from Appalachian Voices and Appalachian Citizens Law Center finds that the cost of living is significantly higher than black lung benefits payments received by many miners with black lung and their families, illustrating the urgent need for congressional action to update how benefits are calculated and deployed.
New report shows alarming lack of mine cleanup progress in Kentucky
A recent study found that nearly 40% of the “active” surface permits in Kentucky have been sitting idle for the last five years. The coal companies responsible for those mine permits did not produce any coal, nor did they make any progress in cleaning up the sites.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center coal impacts idle mine lands Kentucky mine cleanup reclamation
‘A moral imperative:’ Two bills would support miners with black lung and their families
Dec. 13 was a day that Vonda Robinson had been waiting over three years for. On that day, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., introduced the Relief for Survivors of Miners Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center appropriations Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act National Black Lung Association Rep. Morgan McGarvey Sen. Bob Casey silica rule
Legislators & advocates highlight major black lung legislation & fight back against attacks on new silica dust rule
This afternoon, lawmakers and advocates for miners with black lung called on Congress to pass major legislation during a virtual press conference. Leaders from the National Black Lung Association, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Appalachian Voices were joined by U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.), who announced the introduction of the Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023, which would ease the process for families of deceased miners to apply for black lung benefits, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), a lead sponsor for the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, which would help miners access the benefits they deserve.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center appropriations Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act National Black Lung Association Rep. Morgan McGarvey Sen. Bob Casey silica rule
