A new study shows that surface mining has cleared 1.5 million acres of land between 1976 and 2015, and also showed a drastic increase in the ratio of land cleared to tonnage of coal produced over the last three decades.
Blog Archives
Opposition to Proposed Tennessee Mountaintop Removal Mine
Kopper Glo Mining is seeking a second permit to release pollution from its nearly 1,500-acre proposed Claiborne County, Tenn., strip mine into public waterways. Attendees at a public hearing voiced a number of concerns.
Pattern of Violations at Alpha’s Middle Ridge Mine
West Virginia ordered a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources to “show cause” for why it should be allowed to continue operating Middle Ridge Mine after incurring seven violations since July 2016.
Congress Blocks Stream Protection Rule
The Congressional Review Act, a rarely invoked procedure, was used by the U.S. Congress to strike down the Stream Protection Rule.
TAGS: 115th Congress mountaintop removal coal mining Office of Surface Mining Stream Protection Rule
Environmental Votetracker — Feb/March 2017
How Appalachian House and Senate members voted regarding whether to nullify the Stream Protection Rule.
TAGS: 115th Congress Environmental votetracker mountaintop removal coal mining Stream Protection Rule
Mountaintop removal limited — not stopped — in Tennessee
The Obama administration has approved a petition from Tennessee to designate some 75,000 acres of mountain ridges off limits for surface coal mining. The move protects mountain streams, wildlife habitat, scenic views and eco-tourism assets of the iconic Cumberland Plateau. But other mountains in Tennessee are still threatened with mountaintop removal mining. Take action today.
TAGS: Cooper Ridge Cumberland Plateau Department of Interior mountaintop removal coal mining Tennessee
Southwest Virginians Challenge Mine
On Nov. 7, community members voiced their concerns about the proposed Doe Branch mountaintop removal mine to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
Across the Years: Updates from the Archives
In honor of our 20th anniversary, we looked through The Appalachian Voice archives to identify important topics that we’ve covered over the years and provide updates on where these issues stand today.
TAGS: air quality blair mountain Coal Ash Eastern hemlock Great Smoky Mountains National Park Kingston Coal Ash Spill migratory birds mountaintop removal coal mining natural gas pipelines
Navigating the Russell Fork
The Russell Fork River was recently added to American River’s 2016 list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers because of threats from mountaintop coal removal mining.
TAGS: American Rivers americas-most-endangered-rivers Breaks Interstate Park Clean Water Act mountaintop removal coal mining Russell Fork Water Pollution Water quality
Mountaintop Removal Mine Shut Down in WV
The KD#2 surface coal mine in West Virginia was permanently halted by state regulators after a two-year, resident-led campaign to close the mine.
