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.
Appalachian Voices celebrates U.S. House committee’s bill to improve black lung benefits
The bill, which was reported from the committee on a party-line vote, proposes changes to the Black Lung Benefits Program that will make it easier for coal miners and their dependents to access the benefits of the program, which include a living stipend and healthcare benefits.
Congress misses another opportunity to tackle acid mine drainage crisis
With the passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus spending package, Congress has failed to address one of the most pervasive and visible problems caused by abandoned mine operations in the country: acid mine drainage.
Appalachian groups praise bipartisan effort to increase economic revitalization funding
Today, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives sent a letter to congressional leadership and members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees calling for increased funding to the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program for Fiscal Year 2022 as Congress works to finalize the appropriations bill before March 11.
Blackjewel’s Catastrophic Bankruptcy and the Collapse of the Mine Cleanup System
Blackjewel’s bankruptcy demonstrates how the mine cleanup system is coming undone — and how nearby residents bear the burden when coal companies fail to repair their damage.
New River Light and Power wants to further penalize solar customers
Appalachian Voices submitted comments to the North Carolina Utilities Commission today as part of its intervention in the commission’s avoided cost proceeding opposing New River Light and Power’s request to add an $8.95 monthly “administrative” fee to the bills of its solar customers.
In yet another significant blow to MVP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signals stream crossing permit will be indefinitely delayed
CONTACT: Dan Radmacher, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org Morgan Caplan,…
With federal infrastructure money on the way, advocates release recommendations for most effective abandoned mine lands investments
CONTACT: Dan Radmacher, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org Trey Pollard,…
Fourth Circuit Invalidates Decision in Endangered Species Act Case, Further Delaying MVP
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit invalidated the biological opinion and incidental take statement issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Court’s decision means that construction should not move forward along the 304-mile pipeline route.
Environmental groups seek to defend Virginia’s denial of air permit for MVP in court
Richmond, VA — The Sierra Club and Appalachian Voices, represented by Appalachian Mountain Advocates, moved to intervene in a lawsuit to help defend the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s denial of an air permit for the proposed Lambert Compressor station. If built, the station would connect the beleaguered Mountain Valley Pipeline to the proposed “Southgate” extension into North Carolina. The conservation groups filed the motion in response to a lawsuit by the Mountain Valley Pipeline that seeks to reverse the board’s decision.
Future of Mountain Valley Pipeline called into question as fracked gas project receives another crucial setback from Fourth Circuit
CONTACT: Dan Radmacher, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org Morgan Caplan,…
