By Marion Harless, West Virginian   “Well,”  they said. “We’ll put it there. There’s nothing there.”   Sowbugs and spiders, Salamanders and song sparrows. Solomon’s seal, spignet,  Sambucus. Skunks and skinks. Sanicle, ‘sang, Sanguisorba, Sorbus. Sleep site of ursine sow. Squirrels of…

Continue reading

Enerblu Cancels Plan to Build factory on Mountaintop Removal Mine Site in Kentucky

By Dave Cooper I was saddened to read in the February 6 Lexington Herald-Leader that the Enerblu battery plant project proposed for Pikeville in eastern Kentucky has fallen through.  In…

Continue reading

Dave Saville Saves the World*

A new study suggests that trees are our most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change.  Massive restoration of the world’s forests would cancel out a decade of…

Continue reading

Previews of Coming Attractions

There was a lot of activity at the West Virginia Legislature.  The end of the session is only about a week away.  Everything is changing so quickly that nothing…

Continue reading

Court Refuses to Rehear Pipeline Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has refused to rehear the case which disapproved of authorizations the Atlantic Coast Pipeline had received to cross the…

Continue reading

EPA Proposes New Rule Limiting Its Oversight

By John McFerrin The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy has joined with three hundred other organizations in opposing a proposal by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reduce its oversight…

Continue reading

Orchid Plants in Winter

By Patty Gundrum Two orchids are evident in West Virginia during the winter.  Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale) and Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor) produce a single leaf in autumn which persists…

Continue reading

Mining and Public Health: Congress Wants to Know What Happened

By John McFerrin The Natural Resources Committee of the United States House of Representatives has renewed its interest in the connection between strip mining and public health and why the…

Continue reading

The Land and Water Conservation Fund—a Little Background

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965.  It represented a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and our cultural heritage, and…

Continue reading

Land and Water Conservation Fund Reauthorized

The United States Senate has permanently authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Both Senator Capito and Senator Manchin supported the Fund. The Fund collects revenue from offshore drilling…

Continue reading