RockingChair

Front Porch Blog

Updates from Appalachia

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Wins and losses come as the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline continues

On Dec. 3 — after more than eight hours of public, industry and agency comments spread over two days — six of the seven members of the state Air Pollution Control Board voted to deny the air permit for the Lambert Compressor Station.

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Coalition formed to protect Virginia from metals mining

At a virtual press conference on Dec. 13, the launch of the “Press Pause Coalition” was announced. The statewide coalition wants a moratorium on state agencies permitting gold, copper, zinc and lead mining.

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Online tool helps track status of mine ownership in aftermath of Blackjewel bankruptcy

The fate of thousands of acres of mines requiring tens of millions of dollars of reclamation was thrown into doubt when Blackjewel, Revelation Energy and affiliated mining operations filed for bankruptcy in July 2019.

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Building community awareness to solve acid mine drainage: A conversation with DJ Coker

DJ Coker of Duff, Tennessee found acid mine drainage at a nearby pond that used to be part of a coal mining operation. Now, he’s made it his mission to get the site cleaned up and demand accountability from those responsible. Watch DJ’s story.

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Black man with gray beard wearing a "Black Lung Kills" t-shirt speaks into a microphone, tears on his face

Black Lung Association asks Sen. Capito to support 10-year extension of black lung excise tax

Members of the Black Lung Association are asking U.S. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito to support a 10-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax to shore up funding for black lung benefits.

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