Written by AV's Intern Team

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AV's Intern Team

Every year, Appalachian Voices is fortunate to assemble a phenomenal team of rockstar interns from numerous Appalachian and East Coast universities. Enjoy these posts from our interns.

Sandhill Cranes: A Winter Spectacle in Southeast Tennessee

Each winter, thousands of redheaded, long-legged sandhill cranes descend upon the mud flats and grain fields along the banks of the Tennessee River at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Tennessee.

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Proposed N.C. Fracking Rules Move Forward

North Carolina’s Mining and Energy Commission approved proposed changes to state rules on hydraulic fracturing this November. Citizens and environmental groups submitted nearly 220,000 public comments on the rules governing fracking safety standards, but the commission made few significant changes the public proposed.

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Court Upholds EPA Revocation of Mine Permit

A federal judge acknowledged the environmental damage caused by mountaintop removal this September when she ruled to uphold a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency veto of a permit for one of the largest surface mines ever proposed in Appalachia.

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Research Finds Mine Reclamation Failures

Efforts to restore mountaintop removal coal mines are not meeting the objectives of the Clean Water Act, creating a variety of consequences for aquatic life, according to a September study by the University of Maryland’s National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.

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Industry Attempts to Derail Oil Train Safety Rules

Following a rise in explosive, and sometimes deadly,…

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So Long, But Not Goodbye

It is with equal parts sadness and celebration…

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Tallulah Gorge State Park

With six majestic waterfalls and more than 20 miles of hiking trails that range from pleasant strolls to challenging adventures, Tallulah Gorge is a true jewel of the southern mountains.

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George Washington Forest Plan Unveiled

After more than 50,000 public comments and seven years of debate between citizens, government officials, environmentalists and the energy industry, the U.S. Forest Service has released a new management plan for the 1.1-million acre George Washington National Forest.

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Draft Plan for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Stirs Debate

The U.S. Forest Service drew criticism from many western North Carolina conservationists in November when it announced a draft plan that will guide the future of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests for the next 15 years.

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Stars Twinkle in Calhoun County

In West Virginia’s rural Calhoun County, which boasts some of the darkest skies across the eastern United States, a proposed starpark will allow professional and amateur astronomers to study the night sky with minimal light pollution.

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