The decline of the coal industry is exacerbating failures of the current federal system to ensure that mines are cleaned up.
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.
Blog Archives
The Appalachian Voice
Mine Cleanup Concerns Grow As Industry Declines
TAGS: coal bankruptcy coal decline coal slurry impoundment mine cleanup mine reclamation Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
How the Coal Mine Cleanup System is Failing
The bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has exposed many flaws in the current mine cleanup system.
TAGS: Aily Branch Mine blackjewel coal bankruptcy mine cleanup mine reclamation mine runoff Virginia
The Tennessee Valley Faces Crossroads Between Methane Gas or Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to transition away from coal has generated significant push-back from environmental and community groups because of its reliance on methane gas instead of renewable energy.
TAGS: Coal Energy Efficiency just transition pipelines Renewable Energy Tennessee Valley Authority TVA
Seeking to Expand the Impact of Massive Federal Investment in Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines
Following the $11.3 billion investment in abandoned mine cleanup in the infrastructure law, the administration released spending recommendations and a related acid mine drainage cleanup bill passed the House.
Virginia Governor Aims to Remove State from Greenhouse Gas Initiative
In 2021 Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigned on a promise to get Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — a cooperative effort among 12 states to cap and reduce carbon emissions while investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and…
How a Pipeline Battle Led an Advocate for Formerly Incarcerated People Into Solar Workforce Development
Richard Walker of Bridging the Gap in Virginia is working to make sure vulnerable communities are not left behind in the green energy transformation.
TAGS: Atlantic Coast Pipeline Civil Rights clean energy jobs equal opportunity formerly incarcerated Richmond Virginia Solar Energy
Hundreds of Miles of Streams Designated as Critical Habitat for At-risk Crawfish
To protect the threatened Big Sandy crayfish and the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service formally designated 446 miles of Appalachian streams and rivers as critical habitat.
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.
TAGS: blackjewel bond forfeiture coal bankruptcy coal companies mine land reclamation mine reclamation pool bond Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act
Virginia Gold Rush
Residents fear a dangerous open-pit gold mine will open in Buckingham County before the Virginia General Assembly acts.
TAGS: buckingham county friends of buckingham gold mining haile gold mine Virginia Virginia General Assembly
Reinventing Museum Offerings During COVID
Museums throughout the region have found creative ways to connect with the public during COVID, both online and offline. And as many museums resume in-person operations, some are planning to keep these popular new programs.
