Across Appalachia
Environmental and cultural news briefs
Tribal Governments Dispute Proposed Casino
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians claims that a federal bill allowing the Catawba Indian Nation to build a casino in North Carolina is “a modern day land-grab” of Cherokee aboriginal lands, while the Catawba argue that they have rights to the land.
EPA Rejects Proposed Oak Ridge Landfill
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rejected a controversial landfill in Oak Ridge, Tenn., that was to contain low-level radioactive and mixed waste from a federal laboratory and security complex.
Deadly Elk and Deer Disease Spreads
Wildlife officials discovered cases of Chronic Wasting Disease, which causes brain degeneration in elk and deer, in Tennessee. This has led to some states taking precautions to avoid disease spread.
Study Finds Red Wolves are a Distinct Species
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that red wolves are a distinct species, allowing the species to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Agency Says Hellbenders Not Endangered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to list the Eastern Hellbender salamander as endangered, prompting protest from conservation groups.
