Former Mine Permits director Ron Mills claims he was fired for failing to sign illegal coal mining permits. Mills was a political appointee of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, whose official website states: As governor, Beshear has helped restore public trust…
Blog Archives
Kentucky Governor Under Suit for Pro-Coal Corruption
TAGS: Appalachian Water Watch Coal Kentucky Kentucky Litigation Mountaintop Removal Water Water Pollution
Happy 40th Birthday, Clean Water Act!
At Appalachian Voices, we strive to connect communities, families and individuals to their decision-makers to help them protect their land, air and water. We see ourselves in service to those people to help them achieve their goals of providing a…
Landmark Settlement Proposed in Kentucky Water Pollution Case
Appalachian Voices, along with a coalition of citizens’ groups, has reached a historic agreement with International Coal Group, Inc. (ICG), and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet over years of false reporting and water pollution violations in Eastern Kentucky and…
TAGS: Appalachian Water Watch Clean Water Act Coal Kentucky Kentucky Litigation Mountaintop Removal Water Water Pollution Waterkeeper
Go Tell It on Mountain Island Lake
Last Sunday, the Charlotte Observer asked the question, “Are we doing enough on coal ash?” Two people stepped in to answer. The column in the negative was written by Sam Perkins, Director of Technical Programs for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation;…
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Clean Water Act Coal Ash Mountain Island Lake North Carolina Red White and Water Water Pollution
Revealing the True Cost of Coal by Taking the “Con” Out of Economics
At the Democratic National Convention, Appalachian Voices’ staff attended and participated in several panel discussions and events relevant to our work. Perhaps the most engaging forum that I was fortunate enough to attend was the “Summit for a Sustainable Economy,”…
Update: House Passes Dirty Coal Package
UPDATE: Last Friday, the House passed the Dirty Coal package, H.R. 3409, by a vote of 233-175. Thirteen Republicans, led by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), crossed party lines to oppose the bill and stand up for Appalachian communities and public…
TAGS: Clean Water Act Coal Coal Ash Congress Environment EPA Mountaintop Removal Politics Water Pollution
The Senate and the L’awful’ Coal Ash Bill
To put it mildly, the supposed coal ash regulation bill S. 3512 falls short of our expectations. The bill — proposed last July by Sens. Hoeven (R-SD), Conrad (D-SD), and Baucus (D-MT) — shields utilities from their obligations to upgrade…
Ten Years In, the Clean Smokestacks Act Continues to Benefit Us All
Right now, members of Congress are at home hearing from their constituents about the issues they most care about. In this spirit, we joined residents of North Carolina working on water issues to visit the Charlotte office Sen. Kay Hagan.…
TAGS: Appalachian Voices Coal Coal Ash dnc Economy Electric Utilities Energy Efficiency Environment EPA Health Politics Renewable Energy Water Water Pollution
A One-Two Punch in the Fight for Clean Water
It has been a week of good news in the fight for stronger protections against coal ash pollution. A court settlement in South Carolina and a major decision regarding the 2008 TVA Kingston coal ash spill make for a one-two…
TAGS: appalachia Clean Water Act Coal Ash Electric Utilities Environment Health Red White and Water Riverkeeper TVA TVA Kingston coal ash spill Water Water Pollution
Rivers don’t have a pricetag, so how do we protect what they’re worth?
“After Bonny Blue broke loose the streams been dead…” “No fishin’, kids can’t play, smells bad… I wouldn’t put a toe in that creek.” “A lot of people drink tap, but I won’t, I don’t trust it.” The first visit…
