FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2024 CONTACT Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 READ LETTER HERE COAL COUNTRY – As Congress advances a government funding bill that slashes millions in funding for the agency charged with supporting critical mine reclamation…
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Coal community advocates bash cuts to federal mine reclamation funding and urge restoration in FY25 budget
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center mine reclamation U.S. Congress U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement zombie mines
Four ways you can support Appalachian communities in the new year!
In 2023, Appalachian advocates made several advancements in the fight for greater protections for rural communities and families affected by black lung but as we enter 2024, an ongoing battle in Congress over spending is threatening to undo much of this progress while also cutting programs that benefit these communities.
TAGS: appropriations Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act coal impacts Congress funding OSMRE Relief for Survivors of Miners Act U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Lawsuit seeks to protect candy darter from West Virginia coal hauling
Conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service today for failing to protect streams in the Cherry River watershed from the harmful effects of coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest.
TAGS: candy darter Center for Biological Diversity Cherry River watershed Endangered Species Act Monongahela National Forest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
No time to waste averting another coal mine cleanup crisis
Regulators are ignoring a growing crisis unfolding in modern mine reclamation. Coal companies are often failing to complete timely reclamation, and safeguards to ensure mine cleanup are failing. Communities are already seeing a new, more devastating wave of abandoned mines — a problem that will get worse without action.
TAGS: abandoned mine lands coal bankruptcy mine reclamation mountaintop removal coal mining Sierra Club Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement zombie mines
Lawsuit filed to save imperiled Appalachian species from coal mining
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2023 CONTACT Perrin de Jong, Center for Biological Diversity, (828) 595-1862, perrin@biologicaldiversity.org Dan Radmacher, Appalachian Voices, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices today sued the U.S. Office…
TAGS: big sandy crayfish candy darter Center for Biological Diversity Endangered Species Act guyandotte river crayfish U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
What the government spending fight means for Appalachia
Leaders in the Senate and the House need to come together to negotiate a final deal in order to keep the government funded. Appalachian Voices will keep fighting to fund these crucial programs and agencies to help protect coal mining communities and transition to clean energy.
TAGS: Americorps appropriations Black Lung Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program Economic Development Administration Fiscal Responsibility Act government shutdown Letcher County Prison Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration mountain valley pipeline rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Advocates in coal communities urge Congress to prevent “enormous step backwards” by rejecting harmful appropriations bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2023 Contact: Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 VIEW THE LETTERS: House & Senate COAL COUNTRY — Leaders and advocates from across coal country sounded the alarm today, warning Congress that harsh cuts in proposed…
TAGS: Americorps Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative appropriations Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program economic development Economic Development Administration Empowering Rural America Program Low Income Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Statement by Appalachian Voices on House Appropriations Committee proposed cuts to interior and environment agency budgets
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released its proposed FY 2024 budget for the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal includes a 10% budget cut to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s operational budget, while also providing a $1 million increase to the budget for the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program.
How a proposed rule can help communities hold coal companies accountable
The federal surface mining agency has proposed a new rule that, if finalized, will restore community members’ ability to ensure coal companies follow the law.
TAGS: 10-day notice inspection Citizen's Coal Council Hobet Mine Complex mine reclamation Red River Coal Company Sierra Club Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Lawsuit launched to protect endangered crayfish pushed to the brink of extinction by coal mining in Appalachia
The Center for Biological Diversity and Appalachian Voices filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failure to protect the endangered Guyandotte River crayfish and the threatened Big Sandy crayfish from coal mining pollution. Both species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
TAGS: big sandy crayfish Center for Biological Diversity Endangered Species Act U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
