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Posts Tagged ‘West Virginia’

Federal regulators issue notice to DEP for failing to enforce environmental protections at Greenbrier County coal mines

By Abby Hassler | January 14, 2025 | 0
South Fork Coal Company's Rocky Run Surface Mine cutting a gash into the Yew Mountains above the South Fork Cherry River and the community of Richwood. Photo by Andrew Young/ Southwings

A notice issued by federal coal mining regulators outlines the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s failures to address persistent problems at a set of South Fork Coal Company mines and directs state regulators to address the issues and report back.

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West Virginia DEP Suspends Bluestone Coal’s Mining Permit for Poca Surface Mine

By Molly Moore | January 10, 2025 | 0
Three people walk down a rough mine road in the middle of a large surface mine, surrounded by rock and dirt

West Virginia regulators suspended the mining permit for a Bluestone Coal surface mine in Wyoming County that is operated by the family of Sen. Jim Justice.

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Federal regulators poised to crack down on coal mine operated by Jim Justice’s family

By Willie Dodson | December 23, 2024 | 0

On Dec. 10, 2024, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sent a damning letter to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection over the state’s failure to rein in operations on a wildly non-compliant coal strip mine in Wyoming County, West Virginia. 

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Top mine regulator can and must halt illegal coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest

By Willie Dodson | December 20, 2024 | 1
South Fork Coal Company's Rocky Run Surface Mine cutting a gash into the Yew Mountains above the South Fork Cherry River and the community of Richwood. Photo by Andrew Young/ Southwings

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. 

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Environmental groups sue South Fork Coal over damages near Cranberry Wilderness

By Dan Radmacher | December 16, 2024 | 0

The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Appalachian Voices sued South Fork Coal Company today for ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act at five coal mines in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

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Conservation groups ask nation’s top coal mine regulator to shut down illegal coal haul road in Monongahela National Forest

By Dan Radmacher | December 12, 2024 | 0

Today, 11 conservation organizations urged the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to take immediate action to close an illegal coal haul road in the Monongahela National Forest in Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties, West Virginia.

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Coal Miners’ Widows Tell their Stories to Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey

By Willie Dodson | August 21, 2024 | 0
A smiling older man in a hat (vertical), a younger man and woman side by side (top right), and and the same couple years later (lower right).

Currently, some miners’ widows can lose their black lung benefits in certain situations. A bill Congress would help make the system more fair.

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Appalachian Voices statement on Mountain Valley Pipeline’s receipt of key Clean Water Act permit

By Molly Moore | June 23, 2023 | 0
pipeline in flooded field

The U.S. Army Corps issued a Clean Water Act permit to Mountain Valley Pipeline following a passage of a law requiring the agency to do just that.

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Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition report shows how mine cleanup can boost local economies

By Rance Garrison | May 26, 2023 | 0
A photo of the Dante Steam building.

The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition recently released its 2023 report, “National to Neighborhoods: Catalyzing Opportunities for Coal-Impacted Communities.” The report highlights the coalition’s current work and projects across the Appalachian coalfields of Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

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Fighting for Black Lung Benefits for Miners and Families

By Contributing Writers | November 23, 2022 | 4
A woman poses next to her husband with her arm around his shoulders.

Kathryn South’s husband, Mike South, was diagnosed with black lung disease at age 35. As they grappled with his disease, the couple also navigated the arduous legal process to obtain federal black lung benefits, a fight that Kathryn continued even after Mike’s passing.

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  • Our Work
    • End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
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