West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice clearly favors Central Appalachian coal — it’s largely how he made his fortune after all. It's less clear whether Justice is thinking about Central Appalachian people or the future of the region. [ Read More ]
BLOGGER INDEX
Erin Savage
While Erin prefers to be on rivers rather than at a desk, as our Central Appalachian Program Manager she devotes a lot of time delving through data to make it meaningful to others who care about the health of our waterways.West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice fights for coal — at any cost
Monday, September 11th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
White House halts review of mountaintop removal health impacts
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
The U.S. Department of the Interior ordered the National Academy of Sciences to halt its review of the links between mountaintop removal coal mining and human health impacts. [ Read More ]
Citizens discuss environmental threats and economic priorities during Congressman’s visit
Wednesday, June 14th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
People from coal-impacted communities across Central Appalachia recently gathered in Wise County, Va., to share their concerns and ideas with U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva. [ Read More ]
Coal slurry spill in West Virginia linked to Alpha Natural Resources affiliate
Thursday, April 20th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
A coal slurry spill on March 23, 2017, leaked approximately 5,400 gallons of coal slurry into Crooked Run, a tributary of the Coal River. The processing plant in Boone County, W.Va., where the spill originated is affiliated with Alpha Natural Resources. [ Read More ]
Fighting for clean water after the Stream Protection Rule
Tuesday, February 7th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
When Congress voted last week to overturn the Stream Protection Rule, people braced themselves for the coming impacts. But threats to public water from corporate and political interests are nothing new in Central Appalachia, nor is the problem unique to this area. In the face of these threats, communities fighting for clean water need our continued support. [ Read More ]
Final Stream Protection Rule released
Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Interior released the Stream Protection Rule, which aims to protect streams from the impacts of surface and longwall mining. The final rule offers only modest improvements to protections for public waterways, but it is well worth defending from congressional attack. [ Read More ]
Trump’s pick for Commerce has troubled history in coal
Monday, December 5th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Wilbur Ross -- a man who helmed a large Kentucky coal company with a troubled history of environmental and miner safety violations -- has been chosen to be the next U.S. Secretary of Commerce. If President-elect Trump truly believes that economic growth and opportunity can only be gained at the expense of worker safety, community health and clean water, he could make no better pick than Ross. [ Read More ]
Protecting a unique Kentucky fish from mountaintop removal coal mining
Friday, October 7th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
The eye-catching Kentucky arrow darter was just listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, largely due to water pollution from activities like surface coal mining. Increased protection for this rare fish will lead to healthier ecosystems and communities. [ Read More ]
A growing mine is a growing problem for the Russell Fork River
Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
The history of the Doe Branch mine in Southwest Virginia is long and complicated, and its future remains unclear. A bankruptcy saga with the mine’s previous owner stalled development in the past year, but things appear to be getting back on track — putting the Russell Fork River at risk. [ Read More ]
Another step toward clean water in Southwest Virginia
Thursday, April 14th, 2016 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
Through a settlement with Penn Virginia Operating Company, a large landholding company, and A&G Coal Corp., a Jim Justice-owned company, several sources of the toxic pollutant selenium in Wise County, Va., will be cleaned up. [ Read More ]
An end to Frasure Creek’s water violations in Kentucky — finally
Thursday, December 10th, 2015 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
Late Monday evening, Appalachian Voices and our partners finalized a historic settlement in our case against Frasure Creek Mining. The settlement follows a five-year-long legal battle to protect eastern Kentucky’s waterways and bring a coal company notorious for violating environmental laws to justice. [ Read More ]
Understanding the Stream Protection Rule
Friday, October 23rd, 2015 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
While the draft Stream Protection Rule is far from perfect, it is a long overdue update to protections for surface and groundwater from mountaintop removal coal mining. Not surprisingly, the coal industry had relied on “war on coal” talking points to fight against the rule, and claims these protections are unnecessary and will undermine an otherwise viable industry. Let’s examine those claims.
[ Read More ]
