With the failure of coal operator ERP's unconventional scheme, West Virginia must contend with the company's environmental violations and mines in need of cleanup. [ Read More ]
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.
“Environmentalist” Tom Clarke abandons mines in West Virginia
Friday, April 3rd, 2020 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Progress on healthcare for miners with black lung disease
Wednesday, December 18th, 2019 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Congress reinstated a tax to fund healthcare and benefits for miners with black lung and their families for 2020 — but further action is needed to extend the tax and support the fund for 10 years. [ Read More ]
A decision point for abandoned coal mines
Friday, September 6th, 2019 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
An accurate inventory of abandoned coal mine lands is imperative for understanding the scope of the problem, where funding needs to be directed, and how much funding is necessary. [ Read More ]
Blackjewel’s bankruptcy looks like bad news for workers and mine cleanup
Wednesday, July 10th, 2019 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Appalachia's latest coal bankruptcy looks different than others — mines shut down immediately and paychecks were clawed back from employees' bank accounts. We take a look at what the Blackjewel and Revelation Energy bankruptcy could mean for mine land reclamation. [ Read More ]
Central Appalachia’s newest coal boss facing bankruptcies
Monday, December 10th, 2018 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Virginia businessman Tom Clarke's foray into the coal industry initially looked promising for addressing environmental and community problems. Now, however, his business model is looking questionable. [ Read More ]
Coal industry sees bankruptcies and exports in volatile 2018
Monday, November 26th, 2018 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Some coal companies appear to be banking on opportunities for short-term gain with metallurgical coal, but the metallurgical market can only prop up the industry for so long. [ Read More ]
Still on hold: Few answers on review of mountaintop removal health impacts
Wednesday, March 7th, 2018 | Posted by Erin Savage | 3 Comments
More than a year into the Trump administration, a director for the Office of Surface Mining has yet to be confirmed. And it's unlikely that Trump's pro-coal pick will reinstate a review of the human health impacts of mountaintop removal. [ Read More ]
5 graphs explain coal in Trump’s first year
Thursday, February 1st, 2018 | Posted by Erin Savage | 5 Comments
The Trump administration claims an uptick in coal production shows its anti-regulatory agenda is working —
ignoring the fact 2017 was an outlier and coal's long-term trend is downward. Meanwhile, coal communities across the country need better policies now to help diversify their local economies.
[ Read More ]
The National Mining Association doesn’t speak for coal communities
Thursday, October 5th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
The National Mining Association shrugged when a review of research linking mountaintop removal to human health impacts was halted. But the NMA does not speak for coal communities. [ Read More ]
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice fights for coal — at any cost
Monday, September 11th, 2017 | Posted by Erin Savage | 1 Comment
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 ]
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 ]
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