RockingChair

Front Porch Blog

Updates from Appalachia

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pile of coal refuse towers above neighborhood

Coal communities and mine cleanup at the center of federal and grassroots efforts

With bills on the Hill, proposals from the White House, new reports issued and forthcoming from grassroots advocates, and new projects underway, there is a lot happening when it comes to coal communities and mine cleanup!

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workers cleaning up mine site

The need for full AML reauthorization and more

Guest blogger Rebecca Shelton explains why politicians need to be focusing on investing more in coal communities, not less. Congress needs to pass Rep. Cartwright’s abandoned mine lands bills. Rep. Cheney’s bill, which would shortchange coal communities by slicing the fee, is unacceptable.

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Good and bad bills in NC legislature

It’s spring, which means the bills coming into the North Carolina legislature are about as thick as the pollen in the air here. Our NC Field Coordinator Josh McClenney gives us a quick preview of the 2021 session.

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FERC setting up an “Office of Public Participation.” After 40 years.

Congress told FERC 40 years ago to start an “Office of Public Participation.” The agency is finally doing it — after decades of approving dirty-gas pipelines all across the country.

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chart shows how MSHA allows twice as much silica dust exposure as other agencies

Tighter silica rules needed to protect miners from black lung disease

Coal miners are legally allowed to be exposed to twice as much dangerous silica dust as any other worker. That needs to change.

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