The Appalachian Voice
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.
Read MoreIndustry Attempts to Derail Oil Train Safety Rules
Following a rise in explosive, and sometimes deadly, oil train derailings, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed new safety regulations on trains carrying crude oil including stronger tanker cars, slower speeds and improved braking systems. But oil and railroad industry groups argue it will take at least seven years to produce safer tank cars while…
Read MoreSo Long, But Not Goodbye
It is with equal parts sadness and celebration that we bid adieu to our long-time friend and the coordinator of our Tennessee program for the past year, Ann League. While we are losing a formidable teammate, we are excited that Ann is leaving to head up one of our partner organizations, Statewide Organizing for Community…
Read MoreTallulah 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.
Read MoreGeorge 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.
Read MoreDraft 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.
Read MoreStars 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.
Read MoreScant Action One Year After Elk River Chemical Spill
Roughly one year after a coal-processing chemical spill by Freedom Industries contaminated the drinking water of more than 300,000 West Virginia residents, cleanup of the site remains incomplete and disciplinary and preventative action by state and federal officials has been minimal.
Read MoreBrook Trout Brought Home
By Barbara Musumarra Little Stoney Creek in the Cherokee National Forest is once again teeming with Southern Appalachian brook trout. This fall, the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute released 1,100 of the fish into their native waters. Researchers will track the trout’s growth and survival rate through data collected by a coded wire tag that was…
Read MoreKentucky Town Earns Hiking Distinction
State tourism maps will feature a new destination now that Olive Hill, located in Carter County, is Kentucky’s fourth official Trail Town.
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