Posts Tagged ‘OSMRE’
Top mine regulator can and must halt illegal coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest
Sharon Buccino, the acting head of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, could take immediate action to shut down South Fork Coal’s illegal coal hauling operation in the Monongahela National Forest.
Read MoreFour ways you can support Appalachian communities in the new year!
In 2023, Appalachian advocates made several advancements in the fight for greater protections for rural communities and families affected by black lung but as we enter 2024, an ongoing battle in Congress over spending is threatening to undo much of this progress while also cutting programs that benefit these communities.
Read MoreDozens of coal community advocates back new safeguard to strengthen community oversight of mining
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2023 CONTACT: Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com COAL COUNTRY – Last night, 28 groups formally submitted comments in support of a new proposal by the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) that ensures action is taken in response to citizen complaints about safety, pollution, and other violations at coal mining…
Read MoreProgram seeking to link work on abandoned mine land with economic development could be improved
The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition has put out a list of 10 recommendations to improve the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Grant Program so this money is more equitably distributed and focused on transformative projects for coal-impacted communities.
Read MoreHow acid mine drainage fits into pending mine cleanup legislation: A conversation with Joe Pizarchik
Joe Pizarchik, former head of OSMRE and one of the nation’s foremost experts on complex and sprawling abandoned mine lands issues, provides an essential overview of how acid mine drainage fits into pending legislative proposals and where we should look next.
Read MoreA new wave of abandoned coal mines?
As coal collapses, the industry is leaving behind thousands of acres of mined lands in various states of environmental destruction. A new report seeks to understand the scope of the problem and outline potential solutions.
Read MoreNew report finds significant cleanup needed at coal mines in the East
Contact: Erin Savage – Senior Program Manager at Appalachian Voices, erin@appvoices.org, 206-769-8286 A new report estimates that 633,000 acres on mines still held by coal companies in the East require some degree of reclamation, at an estimated total cost of $9.8 billion dollars. The report, which covers mines across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia,…
Read MoreEnforcement of mine cleanup rules is needed to protect communities, create jobs
During a recent House Natural Resources hearing on the issue of sluggish, inadequate, or totally non-existent reclamation on currently permitted coal mines, community advocates called for federal regulators to firmly enforce existing regulations and act in the public interest.
Read MoreCollapse of the coal industry: Problems and recommendations
Coal mine regulations have not kept up with the industry’s collapse, leaving regulators without the money – or the legal tools – to address growing problems of scarred landscapes and polluted waters.
Read MoreUpcoming Webinar: Environmental Justice on Western Indigenous Land
The Alliance for Appalachia is hosting a webinar on April 13 to bring solidarity and support to Hopi and Diné people who are facing similar mine reclamation issues in the West.
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