A Family’s Troubled Water

After mountaintop removal coal mining began near their eastern Kentucky home, the Halberts saw their water quality and quality of life plummet. Three years later, they continue to seek answers.

Read More

Virginia Restoration Reroutes Troubled Water

In Rockbridge County, Va., construction vehicles this August began carving out nearly half a mile of new streambed for the Maury River. Tree plantings to stabilize the soil are scheduled to begin this fall. This will be the largest stream restoration project completed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, which received funding from a federal grant program and a local family farm.

Read More

Heavy-Volume Water Pipe Proposed on Nolichucky River in Tennessee

Rights to the Nolichucky River in Midway, Tenn., have remained contentious since 2011, when U.S. Nitrogen proposed an industrial chemical facility with a 10-mile pipeline connected to the river. The pipeline would withdraw nearly 2 million gallons of water per day, and 500,000 gallons would be returned, contaminated with small amounts of ammonium and nitrogen.

Read More

Serving Virginia Parks

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is launching the inaugural year of its Virginia Service and Conservation Corps program. Participants will maintain trails and improve natural habitats at Pocahontas, Leesylvania or Hungry Mother State Park.

Read More

A First-Hand Look at Emerging Opportunities in Eastern Kentucky

When eastern Kentucky residents shared their regional vision at Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference this September, they could point to real examples. The main highlight of the conference, which attracted more than 100 people from across Appalachia, was a collection of 20 tours of local businesses, farms, music and art venues, tourist attractions, and community cooperatives.

Read More

The Truth About Coal Ash

Coal ash — the byproduct of burning coal for electricity — is currently less regulated than regular household garbage. Filled with heavy metals, coal ash is proven to contaminate groundwater and pollute communities with dust.

Read More

Fracking Opponents Rally Prior to Cullowhee Public Hearing on Draft Oil and Gas Rules

Contacts: Katie Hicks, Clean Water for North Carolina, katie@cwfnc.org, 828-251-1291 Sarah Kellogg, Appalachian Voices, sarah@appvoices.org, 828-262-1500 Donna Dupree, Jackson County Coalition Against Fracking, donnadupree44@yahoo.com, 828-246-1186 Susan Leading Fox, Swain County Coalition Against Fracking, snooz62@frontier.com, 828-736-5529 Avram Friedman, The Canary Coalition, avram@canarycoalition.org Denise DerGarabedian, Coalition Against Fracking in WNC, nofrackwnc@gmail.com Julie Mayfield, Western North Carolina Alliance,…

Read More

Citizens Groups File Petition Demanding EPA Revoke Virginia’s Regulatory Authority

Formal Petition Alleges Commonwealth Systematically Fails to Comply with Clean Water Act Contact: Erin Savage, Appalachian Voices, (828) 262-1500, erin@appvoices.org Adam Beitman, Sierra Club, (202) 675-2385, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citizens groups filed a formal petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this morning alleging that Virginia and its Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy…

Read More

N.C. coal ash bill secures cleanup for only four of 14 sites

Appalachian Voices • Cape Fear River Watch • Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation • Earthjustice • French Broad Riverkeeper • Greenpeace • Haw River Assembly • NC Conservation Network • NC League of Conservation Voters • NC WARN • Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation • Waccamaw Riverkeeper • Waterkeeper Alliance • Winyah Rivers Foundation • Yadkin Riverkeeper Conferees broker…

Read More