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.
Blog Archives
Collapse of the coal industry: Problems and recommendations
TAGS: Coal mine reclamation mountaintop removal coal mining OSMRE SMCRA Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Court rules that coal mines need a permit for water pollution from valley fills
Good news for clean water! Despite a setback in appeals court, overall the Red River Coal Company court ruling will help communities fight back against pollution from mountaintop removal coal mines.
Virginia coalfield localities call for renewed federal funding for mine cleanup
CONTACT: Thom Kay, Senior Legislative Representative, thom.kay@appvoices.org, 864-580-1843 Cat McCue, Senior Communications Strategist, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373 Norton, Va. — Seven local governments in Southwest Virginia have passed resolutions calling on the state’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation that would reauthorize…
Federal spending bill: Some good, and bad news for Appalachia
Congress included funding for several programs important for Appalachian communities, but failed to include the critical RECLAIM Act.
The Ongoing Cleanup of Abandoned Coal Mines
A key federal mine reclamation program is up for reauthorization in 2021 — and the work is far from finished.
TAGS: abandoned mine lands Acid Mine Drainage aml AML pilot program AML reauthorization Cheat River Gorge SMCRA
Courts Confirm Citizen Rights to Inspect Mines
A federal district court in Virginia confirmed that citizens have the right to accompany mine inspections under federal and state law.
Senate bill signals hope for economy in Appalachian coal communities
Contact: Adam Wells, Economic Diversification Program Manager, 804-240-4372, adam@appvoices.org Cat McCue, Communications Director, 434-293-6373, cat@appvoices.org NORTON, VA – A bill announced today by senators from four Appalachian states for $1 billion to repurpose abandoned coal strip mines for economic development…
TAGS: abandoned mine lands economic development Economic diversification RECLAIM Act SMCRA southwest virginia surface coal mines transition
