A collaborative effort to make the Pigeon River Gorge section of I-40 safer for wildlife and humans is yielding results.
Blog Archives
Safe Passage: The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project
TAGS: Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina Pigeon River Gorge Safe Passage Smokies Safe Passage Tennessee wildlife connectivity wildlife crossing wildlife safety
The Beast of Bristol: The Landfill Haunting Residents of the Twin Cities
Terrible, persistent smells from the Bristol landfill have put a damper on quality of life for residents of the Twin Cities. Officials acknowledge the problem, but there’s no clear path forward.
TAGS: Air Pollution air quality Bristol community activism East Tennessee EPA grassroots Landfill landfill gas public health southwest virginia Tennessee trash Virginia Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Online tool helps track status of mine ownership in aftermath of Blackjewel bankruptcy
The fate of thousands of acres of mines requiring tens of millions of dollars of reclamation was thrown into doubt when Blackjewel, Revelation Energy and affiliated mining operations filed for bankruptcy in July 2019.
New tool helps track large number of mine permits set to be voided in Blackjewel bankruptcy
Appalachian Voices has created a web page designed to help concerned residents, reporters and regulators track the status of mines caught up in the Blackjewel bankruptcy where the permits will become void once the Blackjewel companies cease to exist at the end of the year.
Building community awareness to solve acid mine drainage: A conversation with DJ Coker
DJ Coker of Duff, Tennessee found acid mine drainage at a nearby pond that used to be part of a coal mining operation. Now, he’s made it his mission to get the site cleaned up and demand accountability from those responsible. Watch DJ’s story.
New Tennessee law is a giveaway for coal companies
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.
TAGS: Coal Coal mining mine reclamation Office of Suface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement primacy self-bonding Tennessee
Knoxville community groups call for affordable utilities
The Knoxville Water and Energy for All campaign is made up of community and faith groups with a mission to bring solutions to the root problems of unaffordable bills and disconnections in Knoxville.
TAGS: appalachia Appalachian Voices citizen movement Electric Utilities energy democracy energy justice Knoxville racial justice shutoffs Tennessee Utility disconnections utility shutoffs Water
Students Push for Campus Climate Action
College students across the Appalachian region are calling for a host of climate and sustainability initiatives on their campuses.
Ready for the Wild: Rescue Rehabilitates and Releases Young Bears
The Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend, Tenn., has saved more than 300 bears from eight different states over the last 25 years.
Tennessee Drafting Public Recreation Plan
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is in the process of developing the state’s 10-year public recreation plan after gathering public input on priorities.