The Front Porch Blog

Dirty Congressional Coal Ash Proposal Smothered in Negotiations

Monday, July 2nd, 2012 | Posted by | No Comments

Congressional Research Service Report Shows Little Change in State Programs if Congress Had Its Way

By Erin Burks
Red, White and Water intern, Summer 2012

Transportation bill negotiations between the House and Senate came to a close on June 29 and an amendment blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to finalize coal ash storage and disposal is out of the picture for now. This amendment, known as Title V was attached as an amendment to the transportation bill by West Virginia representative David McKinley.

Back in June 2010, the EPA proposed two options on how to manage and dispose of coal ash:

The first option would be to classify coal ash as a special waste under the hazardous waste provision (Subtitle C) and allow the EPA continue to regulate it in a fashion similar to hazardous waste when it is stored in landfills and ponds. This option would set forth federally enforceable guidelines, working with states to implement these standards.

The second option would be to manage coal ash under Subtitle D which would to leave it up to the states to determine if coal ash is managed safely, with EPA-recommended guidelines. Common household trash is treated in this manner. This second option does not allow EPA to enforce the standards, instead leaving it up to the states and individual citizens enforce the standards, leaving the EPA with only a finger to shake at states who do not comply with their recommendations.

While the devastating coal ash spill in Kingston, TN, was the impetus for EPA to review coal ash disposal and storage, the EPA has not finalized either of these provisions. Title V would permanently block the EPA from ever doing so.

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Official EPA Comments on 36 Ky Permits

Thursday, June 28th, 2012 | Posted by Pallavi Podapati | No Comments

Appalachian Voices submitted official comments following the EPA’s public hearing on June 2nd and 4th. Our comments affirm the EPA’s objections to 36 water pollutant discharge permits for surface mines in Kentucky. The 36 draft permits were issued by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA must ensure state compliance with clean water laws to protect public health and the environment. Our official comments explain why we agree with the EPA’s decision, and address misinformation and additional problems with the permits.
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Artists for Appalachia was a huge success!

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 | Posted by Kayti Wingfield | No Comments

Everyone loves attending a well organized celebration. I do too, but even more, I love to plan them. I have regularly volunteered to organize parties for friends, family, and even strangers because I just flat out love a good party. Though I’ve been at Appalachian Voices for a relatively short time, I have admired our organization’s work for many years. I was beyond pleased when I found out that I would be in charge of organizing Appalachian Voices’ 15 year anniversary celebration and benefit concert here in my town of Charlottesville, Virginia. What better way is there to celebrate 15 years of protecting the beautiful and unique Appalachian region but to bring people together with Appalachian inspired music and revelry? With that in mind I started planning Artists for Appalachia at the beginning of the year.

I aimed to get local, regional and nationally-known artists under the same roof for one inspirational night, and bring out a crowd of members and supporters to enjoy the show, all while raising funds to help us continue our work. It was by far the largest celebration I’ve ever planned. But, the truth of it is, it was shockingly easy to plan this event.

The artists that joined us last Thursday on the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia, eagerly wanted to celebrate our work. Not only were they willing to be there, donating their talent and time, but they were excited to be there. Each artist had a personal connection with the region and with its culture, and it shined through as they took the stage. (more…)

VICTORY: Alexander, Hagan, Rockefeller vote for Clean Air

Thursday, June 21st, 2012 | Posted by JW Randolph | No Comments

Inhofe Resolution fails despite support of Virginia Senators Webb, Warner

lamar Big news out of the Senate as Senator Inhofe’s most recent effort to stop clean air protections (SR 37) was killed by a vote of 46 to 53. Much more on the specifics of the legislation here. A handful of Republicans, including Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, did the right thing by voting this bill down. This was despite the fact that Inhofe has been connected with groups running attack ads against his fellow Republican regarding this vote. Other Republicans who voted correctly alongside Senator Alexander were Senators Ayotte (NH), Brown (MA), Collins (ME), and Snowe (ME).

Most Democrats opposed the resolution, including West Virginia Senator John Rockefeller. This was following a moving floor speech by the Senator on the future of coal, and their need to embrace change. Senator Rockefeller has traditionally worked in lockstep with the coal industry. However, his blunt advice to them, perhaps for the first time, conjured memories of the late West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd. In some of his final public statements, Byrd had warned that the coal industry needed to adapt and change to have a strong future.
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Congress’ Big Day: Voting on two polluter-friendly proposals

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 | Posted by | No Comments

By Erin Burks
Red, White and Water intern, Summer 2012

This is a critical week in the U.S. Congress. The House will vote on a bill that could have negative impacts on the quality of waterways in our nation for years to come. With the most anti-environmental Congress to date currently in charge, today is a big day for clean air and water. By a narrow margin, the Senate voted against a bill that would take away power from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Steve Johnson and his daughter on his coal-ash-covered driveway

On the House side, there will be a vote on the floor of the House about “a motion to instruct conferees” to include a rider that would freeze the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s public rule-making on coal ash storage and disposal. EPA’s rule-making does not cover the use of coal ash in construction and is therefore not relevant to the final Transportation bill, but coal industry allies have been making false claims that coal ash regulation will influence highway construction. Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia has been the leading the charge on this front.

Email your congressional representative today to ask them to keep coal ash out of the Transportation Bill. (more…)

Raleigh Legislature Hosts Citizens’ Lobby Day for Renewable Energy

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 | Posted by Jeff Deal | No Comments

There’s just something fitting about North Carolina renewable energy advocates getting up ahead of the sun – and this is exactly what they did on Tuesday June 12th as they rolled out of bed for the 7:00 AM convening of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Society’s Citizen Lobby Day.

Why such an early start? Renewable Energy Development in NC of course! Though the waiting hot coffee didn’t hurt.

Given the many arduous budgetary matters now before NC’s legislature, these NC fans of clean and green energy wanted to make sure that the legislature kept renewable energy development in North Carolina (now the 10th largest state in the Union), squarely on on the front burner. (more…)

Legislation Addressing Health Impacts of Mountaintop Removal Introduced in Congress

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments

Today, Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and 11 Democratic cosponsors are introducing the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act into the 112th Congress. The bill seeks to help end mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia by highlighting the health impacts associated with the practice.

We applaud this effort to bring the daily tragedy that is mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia to the attention of the American people and their Representatives in the U.S. Congress. We are also grateful for the continued leadership demonstrated by Reps. Kucinich and Slaughter, both cosponsors of the Clean Water Protection Act (H.R.1375), and longtime champions of Appalachia.

7th Annual Week in Washington shakes Capitol Hill

Monday, June 18th, 2012 | Posted by | No Comments

By Kate Finneran
Appalachian Voices National Field Coordinator, 2011-12

Thank you to everyone for making this Week in Washington such a success! Thanks to all of your efforts we had over 135 people in D.C. lobbying simultaneously to end mountaintop removal, attended over 120 meetings, and created a ripple effect of change that we will see continue through this year and beyond.

Our combined efforts of our 7th Annual lobby week and the Day of Action tied together different tactics in a new way for our movement. People noticed. Don’t believe me? Just ask Rolling Stone, Politico, The State Journal, The Republic, or my family’s personal favorite: Fly, Rod, & Reel. In addition to everything we did in D.C., over 200,000 were exposed to our message on Twitter, 200,000 through Facebook, 27,000 viewed our pictures on Flickr, and hundreds of people across the country called their Representatives to tell them to cosponsor the Clean Water Protection Act!

If you couldn’t make it to D.C. or haven’t encouraged your representative to co-sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act lately, please give them a call and ask for their support!

We want to thank each and everyone who came to DC, hit the marble floors of Congress running, and made it clear that we’re not backing down.

Go, fight, win!

-The Week in Washington Planning Team

Speaking Out At EPA Hearings in Kentucky

Thursday, June 14th, 2012 | Posted by Pallavi Podapati | 2 Comments

Upon our arrival, we definitely stood out. I wondered if we exuded “tree hugger,” but it’s more likely that the “I Love Mountains” buttons gave us away. While no one approached us directly to ask what we were doing there or to start an argument, the rally cries and fire-and-brimstone speeches in the background gave me pause. On the other hand, my fellow AppVoicers seemed comfortable, even delighted, to approach people participating in the coal rally and engage in dialogue.

The June 4th U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearings were held at the Eastern Kentucky Expo in Pikeville, a massive stadium that seats 7,000. Individuals gathered to voice their opinions on the EPA’s denial of 36 mine permits because of water quality issues. Following the hearing, the EPA will be receiving comments until June 21st.

While things seemed relatively calm during the rally outside, within the Expo things turned nasty. None of the jeering was too off-putting, but the feeling of tension and the combative tone pro-coal individuals took with EPA officials and environmentalists made everyone in our small group uneasy.

Four members of Appalachian Voices spoke at the hearing, Eric Chance, Erin Savage, Matt Wasson, and myself. We talked about Kentucky’s troubled history of failing to enforce clean water protections, and agreed with the EPA that the permits in question lacked appropriate scientific data and safeguards to protect watersheds. We also commented on the devastating health impacts from water pollution caused by mountaintop removal coal mining, and countered coal industry propaganda with data about the recent rise in the region’s coal employment. A member of the Sierra Club, Alex DeShay, also spoke, and we all received very vocal disapproval from the crowd. I wondered if we were in a precarious situation by being the only people who were openly supportive of the EPA’s initiatives.

This is not the Eastern Kentucky I know. (more…)

Join Us at Jefferson Theater

Thursday, June 14th, 2012 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | No Comments

By Jessica Kennedy
Editorial assistant, Summer 2012

Just a week from today, Appalachian Voices will present a night of music, speakers and inspiration featuring leading environmental activist Jeff Goodell and Grammy-award winner Kathy Mattea.

Artists for Appalachia celebrates Appalachian Voices’ 15th anniversary working to save the mountains of Appalachia. The event will be held in the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville, Va., Thursday, June 21. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the program starts at 8 p.m.

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To the Capitol and Back

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | 7 Comments

Donna Branham recently joined other Appalachian women in West Virginia in shaving her head in an act of mourning and protest against the destruction of the mountains. (Photo by Jamie Goodman)

By Jessica Kennedy
Editorial assistant, Summer 2012

I’ve never seen mountaintop removal. I’ve seen it in pictures, books, movies. I’ve seen it in dreams and reconstructed it in my head. I’ve pictured its destruction settling in my mountains – the giant hills that make Boone the town it is. I am thankful mountaintop removal has not made its home in North Carolina.

One day, I hope I will see it up close so that I can begin to feel the magnitude of it. But after last week, I have seen so much more than stripped mountains. At The Alliance for Appalachia’s 7th annual End Mountaintop Removal Week In Washington, I met people whose lives have been altered, whose health has been damaged, whose homes have been destroyed – all because of mountaintop removal. Seeing the damage to these innocent people was perhaps more powerful than seeing the stripped remains of the mountains themselves.

One Appalachian resident said witnessing mountaintop removal is like seeing someone you love die. (more…)

Front Row Seats at the Political Theater in Abingdon, VA

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments

Last Saturday, June 2nd, FACES of Coal and Americans for Prosperity held the “Rally for Appalachian Coal Jobs” in Abingdon, VA. The flier for the rally touts the usual “War on Coal” rhetoric: “Appalachian Coal Jobs have been under regulatory assault from the bureaucrats in Washington D.C. It’s time we stand up and defend them!”

The event, held at the Washington County Fairgrounds, was open to the public and claimed to be “family friendly,” so we at Appalachian Voices thought we should attend. (more…)

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