Appalachian Voices calls for science-based ozone standards

Appalachian Voices has joined the American Lung Association and over 200 other health, faith, and conservation groups this week in asking the EPA to issue strict, science-based limits on ground-level ozone pollution. Ozone is the main irritant in the smog that affects cities large and small throughout our region, as well as prized natural areas…

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20,000 Clean Water Act Violations equals attack of the lawsuit!

Yesterday’s press release made its rounds quickly as our WaterWatch team here at Appalachian Voices announced its legal action against three coal mining companies for violations (and violations… and violations…) of the Clean Water Act. ICG (International Coal Group) has already responded in a furious attempt to label us as an “anti-mining group” and accused…

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Rahall: Protecting Appalachians Is Harming National Security

A set of so-called “pro-coal” Representatives have introduced HR 6113 to prove that they care more about Don Blankenship’s approval than their constituents’ health. This bill asserts that Obama’s EPA threatens national security. Continuing their march to ignore evidence, make stuff up, and push for an entirely rampant and unregulated coal industry, coal-bound legislators have…

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Charlotte Coal Ash Hearing Shows Strong Support for Subtitle C

Tuesday’s standing room only coal ash hearings in Charlotte, N.C. were nothing less than encouraging. As a fresh addition to Appalachian Voices, it was a learning experience for me on all things “coal ash.” Citizens from all walks of life stood up to testify against the harmful effects of the improper disposal of coal ash…

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Hundreds of Concerned Citizens in Charlotte Demand EPA Protections from Toxic Coal Ash

For Immediate Release: September 14, 2010 Contact: Rachele Huennekens, Sierra Club (703) 470-2454 Donna Lisenby, Upper Watauga Riverkeeper, (704) 277-6055 Charlotte, NC — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered in Charlotte on Tuesday, September 14, urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pass strong, federally-enforceable safeguards for coal ash, the hazardous remains left over from coal-fired…

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Enviro News Magazine Covers Mountaintop Removal

LINK TV is an online TV program supported by notables like Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte, recently ran a piece about mountaintop removal in their news program. Its a very dramatic piece and will get you fired up. But my only wish is that they showed more of the middle ground, less of the anger…

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New Links Found Between Water, Coal and Cancer

Story by Derek Speranza New research suggests that residents in close proximity to coal plants have to worry about the water as much as they do about the air. Nathaniel Hitt, Ph.D., of Viriginia Tech, recently published a study entitled “Ecological Integrity of Streams Related to Human Cancer Mortality Rates,” which correlates the ecological health…

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Operation Medicine Cabinet: A Huge Success

By Derek Speranza River conservationists and law enforcement officials collected approximately 188,563 pills and 20.2 gallons of liquid medication during High Country’s second prescription drug take back event on May 22. More than 38 volunteers and 16 law enforcement officials from Watauga and Avery counties participated in Operation Medicine Cabinet, and the amount of drugs…

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