Across Appalachia
Environmental and cultural news briefs
Cleaner Air in North Carolina and Virginia
Although state officials in North Carolina and Virginia reported significant improvements in air quality in recent years, a nonprofit organization released a report in May stating that 96 percent of national parks are damaged by air pollution.
Tennessee Law Blocks Localities From Banning Plastic Bags
Gov. Bill Lee signed a law banning local governments from enacting regulations against certain plastic bags and utensils after Nashville and Memphis considered taxes on single-use plastic bags.
Environmental Groups Reach Agreement with Forest Service for Timber Sale
After three years of deliberations with environmental groups, the U.S. Forest Service reduced the acreage of a timber sale in the Jefferson National Forest and took other measures to protect water quality.
Proposal for Ohio River Water Pollution Standards Undergoes Third Revision
The proposed plan would continue to allow the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission to set water pollution limits, but would allow states to make different restrictions on a conditional basis.
Southeast Endangered Species Get Less Funding Compared to Other Regions
Conservation biologist Bernie Kuhajda found that some aquatic species outside of the Southeast receive as much as 46.6 times more funding than those in the region.
