RockingChair

Front Porch Blog

Updates from Appalachia

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Federal agency announces a proposed safety order for Mountain Valley Pipeline

Now as MVP construction is resuming, communities along the pipeline’s route are alarmed at the danger of using the deteriorated components, fearing that the risk for cracks, weld failures, leaks and explosions has increased.

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Community, culture and creation: Working to bring new investments into the coalfields

Beginning in January 2023, four local environmental and social justice organizations held a series of community listening sessions, one in each coalfield county in Southwest Virginia.

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Deputy Assistant Secretary Patricia Silvey moderated the silica hearing on Aug. 10.

Miners, advocates voice their concerns about MSHA’s proposed silica rule

Coal miners and black lung advocates filled several back rows of the auditorium at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy just outside of Beckley, West Virginia, on the morning of Aug. 10th to provide comments on the agency’s draft rule to protect miners from respirable silica dust.

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Gov. Youngkin’s attempt to repeal RGGI administratively violates the law

At the heart of Youngkin’s effort is the question: Is the governor allowed to do this? The answer is no, and Appalachian Voices, along with a number of our partner organizations represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, are going to court to enforce the law.

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Appalachia receives major benefits from federal Inflation Reduction Act to power solar projects

Going solar has become more accessible and affordable for nonprofit organizations, businesses, and local governments in Appalachia. Communities near a recently closed coal mine or coal-fired power plant directly benefit from significant federal funding flowing into the region.

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