Written by Dan Radmacher

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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.

Lawsuit launched to protect endangered crayfish pushed to the brink of extinction by coal mining in Appalachia

The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failure to protect the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish and the threatened Big Sandy crayfish from coal mining pollution. Both species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

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Biden Administration announces new actions to help energy communities take advantage of historic federal investments in clean energy

Today, the Biden Administration announced a series of actions intended to create jobs, opportunities and investments in energy communities, and to deploy clean energy projects on former mine lands. Appalachian Voices Executive Director Tom Cormons was invited to speak at the announcement.

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Court vacates critical West Virginia water permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline

Today, a unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit vacated the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Water Act § 401 certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, finding that the agency’s justification behind its conclusion that the pipeline would not violate the state’s water quality standards was deficient.

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New film highlights West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina communities that helped stop pipeline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2023 CONTACT Jessica…

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NEW REPORT: Benefits for coal miners with black lung falling behind

This morning, advocates for miners with black lung and their families released a new report detailing how black lung benefit payments have fallen far behind the cost of living, putting ailing miners and their dependents among the most at risk as inflation continues to rise.

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Appalachian Voices urges Congress to pass Biden’s proposed investments in Appalachian coalfields

Today, President Joe Biden released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget to fund government programs through September 2024. The budget proposal includes crucial investments in programs to boost economic growth in the coalfields, ensure coal mine reclamation and protect miners from black lung disease.

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black and white graphic with skeleton wearing miner hat, text reads "black lung kills"

Senators from Appalachian states request a federal study of whether black lung benefits are adequate

A study by the Government Accountability Office looking at the adequacy of current black lung benefits for miners and their families requested by U.S. senators should bolster ongoing efforts to improve those benefits.

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six people stand on a street in Richmond

Wins and losses in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session

Even with the short session, Appalachian Voices’ capitol team had a lot to keep track of, with a number of bills we were hoping to convince legislators to support — and quite a few we were hoping to convince them to vote down.

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Statement from Appalachian Voices on U.S. Fish and Wildlife biological opinion for Mountain Valley Pipeline

Today, for the third time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, one of several authorizations necessary under federal law to allow construction of the project. 

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CDC shares new research: For miners, death rate from lung disease is higher than ever before

On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared a new study that sounds a clear alarm bell to leaders across the country about the dire need for a renewed focus on safeguarding the health of coal miners across the country.

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