End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

AV-mountainBorder-flip-white-thin

Photo of mountaintop removal mining by Kent Mason

Since the 1970s, the coal industry has blown up more than 500 of the oldest, most biologically rich mountains in America and destroyed more than 2,000 miles of headwater streams. Despite an ongoing citizen movement to end the destruction, and despite the decline in coal, it’s still happening.

Mountaintop removal coal mining is a destructive form of extracting coal in which companies use heavy explosives to blast off hundreds of feet from an ancient mountain ridge to access thin seams of coal below. The massive amounts of dirt and rubble, what the coal industry calls “overburden,” is dumped into adjacent valleys, burying headwater streams.

To meet federal reclamation requirements, the mining sites and “valley fills” are often sprayed with non-native grasses, and gravel ditches are built as so-called restored streams. Many sites don’t meet the requirements, and even if they do, these measures do little to prevent toxic contaminants from poisoning the creeks and streams below.

Mountaintop removal has a devastating impact on the region’s economy, ecology and communities. Appalachian Voices is committed to righting these wrongs and protecting the mountains and communities. For more than a decade, we have worked closely with partner groups and citizens in the region, helping establish and guide The Alliance for Appalachia and building a national movement 100,000+ people strong through ILoveMountains.org.

We remain vigilant in our mission to defend the people and natural resources of the Appalachian region, and will raise a hue-and-cry against any regulatory rollbacks.

AV-mountainBorder-white-medium1

Latest News

Bill Aims to Boost Local Appalachian Economies

The RECLAIM Act, introduced in early February by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), would accelerate the release of $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund over the next five years and could help revitalize the economics in many areas impacted by coal’s decline.

Read More

Historic Clean Water Act Settlement in KY

Following a five-year legal battle regarding thousands of violations of the Clean Water Act, Appalachian Voices and our partners finalized a settlement with Frasure Creek Mining and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet in December.

Read More

Bringing Citizen Voices to the U.S. Senate

Armed with a wealth of science and quotes from residents directly impacted by mountaintop removal coal mining, our Director of Programs Matt Wasson defended the proposed Stream Protection Rule during a U.S. Senate committee hearing.

Read More

Kentucky Resident Challenges Coal Company’s Right to Mine

Not On My Land By Tarence Ray For…

Read More

Appalachian Voices testifies before Senate panel on coal-mining rule

Contact: Matt Wasson, Program Director, 828-773-0799, matt@appvoices.org Cat…

Read More

Federal agency considers restricting surface mining in Tennessee

Ridgeline corridors across a 67,000-acre area of Tennessee could be protected from surface mining. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is considering granting the state’s request for a ban. Submit your comment in support of the Cumberland Mountains before Jan. 25!

Read More