Cleaning Up The Watauga!

A big thanks goes out to all those who helped make the Watauga River a cleaner, more beautiful place to swim, fish, and boat. On Saturday, September 10th, the Upper Watauga Riverkeeper helped to complete a cleanup of the Watauga River, as part of the nationwide river cleanup day. Wendy Patoprsty and staff from the…

Read More

Big Coal’s Watergate Hearing Wrap Up

The hearing against the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, and ICG and Frasure Creek coal companies wrapped up last Friday. Appalachian Voices, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Riverkeeper, and Waterkeeper Alliance intervened in the settlement between the Cabinet and the coal companies, arguing the settlement was not fair, reasonable or in the public interest. Appalachian…

Read More

First Day Wrap-up of Kentucky Coal Trials

The first day of the hearing against the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and ICG and Frasure mining companies concluded Wednesday evening. Appalachian Voices, Kentucky Riverkeeper, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Waterkeeper Alliance intend to show that the penalties assessed by the Cabinet for the two coal companies are not sufficient to address the severity…

Read More

Appalachian Voices’ First Clean Water Act Trial Beginning This Wednesday in Kentucky

After much preparation and anticipation, our first day in court will begin in just two short days. Appalachian Voices, along with its partners, Kentucky Riverkeeper, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and Waterkeeper Alliance will appear in court in Franklin County, Kentucky this Wednesday to begin the first portion of litigation against ICG, Inc. (now owned by…

Read More

Flaming wells, poisoned water show abuses of coal.

I have just returned from another epic journey into the dark side of coal mining. If you, me or anyone else in America poisoned a neighbor’s drinking water we would be castigated and made a pariah at the very least and possibly jailed for attempted murder at the worst. But if you are a coal…

Read More

Spread the News! Appalachians overwhelmingly oppose mountaintop removal

The following email was sent to the 100,000+ supporters of iLoveMountains.org. To sign up to receive free email alerts, click here. Great news! This week we received the results of a public opinion poll that confirms that voters in Appalachia overwhelmingly want to end mountaintop removal and strengthen protections provided by the Clean Water Act.…

Read More

Possible Methane Contamination of Drinking Water Wells in Kentucky

“In all my 20 years of working on water quality problems, I have never seen a drinking water well catch on fire and burn continuously for days on end,” Donna Lisenby said in reaction to news reports of a well fire in Pike County, Kentucky. Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Steering Committee member Ted Withrow contacted…

Read More

Expect the President to Veto H.R. 2018 – Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 July 12, 2011 (House Rules) STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 2018 – Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (Rep. Mica, R-FL, and 39 cosponsors) The Administration strongly opposes H.R 2018 because it would significantly undermine the Clean Water Act (CWA) and could adversely…

Read More

The Brook Trout: highlighting local, regional & global environmental issues

By Adam Reaves Riverfest/Development intern, 2011 This latest Creature Feature highlighting NC’s native trout species is the Brook trout. To learn more about native aquatic critters in the area, don’t miss RiverFest on June 4th. Throughout the Southern expanse of the Appalachian Mountains, the Brook trout spends its seven-year lifespan hunting for mollusks, insects, and…

Read More