Posts Tagged ‘appalachia’
West Virginia files Clean Water Act suit against Kanawha County mine
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has brought a lawsuit against Keystone Industries over Clean Water Act violations at the KD #2 surface mine in southern Kanawha County, W.Va., adjacent to the Kanawha State Forest.
Read MoreResponding to “Appalachia’s Distress”
Over the weekend, a letter by our Executive Director Tom Cormons to the editors of The New York Times appeared on the newspaper’s website. It was penned in part to stress the importance of the Stream Protection Rule and to urge federal regulators to stand firm in the face of industry opposition, and finalize it.
Read MoreOwning the Mountains: Appalachia’s history of corporate control
By Elizabeth E. Payne Throughout the history of the United States, Appalachia has attracted the attention of outside investors hoping to profit from the region’s valuable commodities. First timber, then coal and now natural gas are all highly valued. To ensure access to these resources, early investors bought large parcels of land in Appalachia. “By…
Read MoreCatholic Letter Addresses Environment, Economy
The Catholic Committee of Appalachia’s third pastoral letter highlights the voices of ordinary citizens and focuses on social justice and environmental issues including mountaintop removal coal mining, water quality, climate change, poverty and health.
Read MoreNew Program Makes Learning Cherokee Easier
Cherokee is “the original language of the Appalachians,” and a new online program is making this difficult language easier to learn.
Read MoreChildhood Blood Lead Levels Falling in Appalachia
Across Appalachia, the number of children reported to have lead poisoning has decreased since 1997, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read MoreBill Aims to Boost Local Appalachian Economies
The RECLAIM Act, introduced in early February by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), would accelerate the release of $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund over the next five years and could help revitalize the economics in many areas impacted by coal’s decline.
Read MoreNew Mine Safety Standards Survive Industry Challenge
Despite challenges from industry groups, a federal court has upheld new mine safety standards that will go into effect on Feb. 1.
Read MoreDo bankrupt coal company executives really deserve bonuses?
Witnessing the one-sidedness of coal bankruptcies in Appalachia and their aftershocks goes to show who has a voice and whose voices the system values. Take Alpha Natural Resources, which recently received approval to pay its executives millions in bonuses despite not having made a profit since 2011.
Read MoreCoal, Congress and the art of lying
It’s amazing how much work goes into stretching the truth. It’s even more amazing when media outlets and political leaders latch onto that “truth” and peddle it without scrutiny. A recent and relevant example: an economic impact analysis of the Stream Protection Rule, commissioned by the National Mining Association.
Read More