2015 — (Dec/Jan)
Appalachia’s Environmental Votetracker – Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016
See how Appalachian congressional representatives voted on several environmental issues during fall 2015.
Read MoreKnoxville Homes Get an Energy Makeover
The Knoxville Extreme Energy Makeover project is working to weatherize 1,278 homes by September 2017. They aim to reduce energy spending by at least 25 percent for each home weatherized.
Read MoreTrek to the Top of Mt. Cammerer
Enjoy a strenuous 11-mile hike to the top of Mt. Cammerer, located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike culminates with a view of the Pigeon River Gorge 3,000 feet below and the opportunity to stroll around the catwalk of the historic fire tower at Mt. Cammerer’s peak.
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Dean Whitworth
Two New Children’s Books Share Tales of the Outdoors and Activism
Two new children’s books are set in Appalachia. “Saving Annie’s Mountain” is a picture book about mountaintop coal removal, and “The Adventures of Bubba Jones” is a chapter book about kids exploring nature in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Read MoreEPA May Take Over Cleanup of Asheville Superfund Site
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is weighing whether to takeover the cleanup of the CTS Superfund site near Asheville, N.C., or allow the company to manage the cleanup itself.
Read MoreEnvironmental Groups Challenge How Pipeline Impacts are Assessed
A coalition of conservation groups is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider the combined impact of four proposed natural gas pipeline projects.
Read MoreStates Hold Strong on Clean Power Plan Positions
Appalachian states vary in their reactions to the Clean Power Plan: West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio have filed a lawsuit against the new regulations, while Virginia and Maryland are working to defend the plan.
Read MorePublic Input Invited for Pisgah and Nantahala Forest Planning
The U.S. Forest Service is working on a management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, both in western North Carolina. The agency has solicited feedback, and public input would be most useful by Dec. 15.
Read MoreWater Rights a Hot Topic in North Carolina, West Virginia
Legal battles in North Carolina and West Virginia are determining whether water systems will be controlled by local, state or private entities.
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