Written by Dan Radmacher
Dan Radmacher
Dan is Appalachian Voice's Media Specialist. Previously, he worked as an opinion journalist for newspapers in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, and then as a communications consultant for a number of environmental nonprofit organizations.
Miners, advocates speak out during silica rule hearing
During a public hearing held today in Beckley, West Virginia, a number of coal miners and advocates spoke out in support of strengthened silica dust exposure standards proposed by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration in response to an epidemic of new black lung cases among coal miners while highlighting areas where the proposed rule could be improved.
Challenges Remain For Mountain Valley Pipeline
In 2022 and 2023, opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline have witnessed a number of victories and setbacks.
Woman Says Pipeline ‘Wrecked’ Farm
Construction for the Mountain Valley Pipeline damaged Karolyn Givens’ farm, and she says neither the state of Virginia nor the company have been able to repair the land and water.
Mine Cleanup Concerns Grow As Industry Declines
The decline of the coal industry is exacerbating failures of the current federal system to ensure that mines are cleaned up.
Upcoming public hearings should highlight weaknesses of new silica rule proposal
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is planning three hybrid hearings on its proposed rule to strengthen silica exposure standards for coal miners. These hearings will give miners and their advocates an opportunity to point out some of the weaknesses of the proposal.
Environmental groups file notice of appeal as fight to keep Virginia in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative continues
Two months after Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board voted to remove the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, environmental groups are working to stop this from happening.
Statement from Rural Power Coalition regarding pending FY 2024 agricultural and rural development appropriations bill.
H.R.4368 makes significant cuts to critical investments in rural energy that could delay improvements to rural energy infrastructure by decades, leaving rural communities vulnerable to energy insecurity, continued fossil fuel pollution and volatile electricity costs.
Environmental justice council recommends strict soot and ozone standards
Today, the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council voted unanimously to submit a letter to the Biden administration highlighting the disproportionate impact of fine particulate matter and ozone pollution on low-income communities and communities of color.
Appalachian senators introduce bill to support families of deceased miners
Today, Sens. Mark Warner (VA), Tim Kaine (VA), Joe Manchin (WV), Sherrod Brown (OH), Bob Casey (PA) and John Fetterman (PA) introduced legislation to ease the process for families of deceased miners to apply for black lung benefits. Surviving dependents can apply to receive black lung benefits after a miner’s death, but filing for benefits is complex and burdensome.
Statement by Appalachian Voices on House Appropriations Committee proposed cuts to interior and environment agency budgets
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released its proposed FY 2024 budget for the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal includes a 10% budget cut to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s operational budget, while also providing a $1 million increase to the budget for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program.
