Posts Tagged ‘Mountaintop Removal’
The 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 4 in a 5 part series Lie 4: More mountaintop removal coal mining will provide much needed flat, reclaimed land for economic development. Central Appalachia has been mired in a mono-economy for the greater part of a century. In many counties, coal mining has been the only source of good paying jobs. Mining jobs…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 3 in a 5 part series 3. A candidate opposed to mountaintop removal cannot win a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky or West Virginia. Despite what political supporters of the coal industry would have us believe, a candidate opposed to mountaintop removal coal mining can, and likely will, represent Kentucky or West Virginia in…
Read MoreMountaintop Removal in a Nutshell: Tremendous Environmental Capital Spent for Modest Energy Gains
We talk a lot about the external costs of mountaintop removal. And by understanding the true costs that coal puts off on the landscapes, water and communities of Central Appalachia, it’s abundantly clear that the costs far outweigh the benefits to all but a few. But still we hear arguments about the need for a…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 2 in a 5 part series LIE 2: ECONOMY Proponents of mountaintop removal mining use a very simple and straightforward logic to justify the practice: jobs are good for the economy, and mountaintop removal mining provides jobs, therefore mountaintop removal mining is good for the economy. The argument is logical, but only if you…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 1 in a 5 part series LIE 1: BALANCE After spending a month back in their home states, Congress is back in session. Between the budget, the debt ceiling, Syria, energy efficiency bills, and the farm bill, they have plenty of work to do in a short period of time but rest assured the…
Read MoreClimate Action Plan has Major Implications for Coal
By Brian Sewell In late June, President Obama announced his administration’s climate action plan. The speech at Georgetown University signaled to Congress that the president was keeping his promise to come up with executive actions to address the threat of climate change, and reignited claims of a “war on coal” in Central Appalachia and nationwide.…
Read MoreHouse Republicans fight for mountaintop removal mining
A lopsided legislative hearing held by the House Natural Resources committee last Friday is further proof that fans of mountaintop removal mining aren’t giving up without a fight. The hearing focused on legislation recently introduced by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), a proud coal industry advocate, and Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), a pro-coal congressman in his…
Read MoreConcerns Grow Over the EPA’s Stance on Selenium Pollution
In February, we wrote about the new selenium water quality standards being proposed by the Kentucky Division of Water and urged concerned citizens to express their concern to the state. Now, Kentucky has gone ahead with its proposal, submitting the new standards to the EPA for review. While the EPA may deny Kentucky’s proposed standards,…
Read MoreCourt Rules to Protect Virginia Rivers and Streams from Mining Pollution: A & G Coal to be Held Responsible for Unpermitted Discharges of Toxic Selenium
Contact: Matt Hepler, SAMS, 276-565-6167, mhepler24@gmail.com Kim Teplitzky, Sierra Club, 412-802-6161, kim.teplitzky@sierraclub.org Erin Savage, Appalachian Voices, 828-262-1500, erin@appvoices.org Appalachia, Va. – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia ruled Monday that A & G Coal is responsible for discharging toxic selenium from their Kelly Branch mine into nearby Callahan Creek. The Court…
Read MoreCourt Victory for Clean Water in Kentucky: The Battle Continues
Last week, an attempt by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet to toss concerned citizens out of court failed. Judge Phillip Shepherd denied a motion to dismiss our challenge of a settlement between Frasure Creek Mining and the cabinet. Appalachian Voices and our partners KFTC, Kentucky Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance, will now be allowed to…
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