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American Rivers names Gauley River to America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2025, due to toxic coal mining pollution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 16, 2025 Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org Andrew Young, Staff Attorney for the…
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ACTION ALERT: Defend the Monongahela – Stop Illegal Coal Hauling in Our Public Forests
A coal company is trying to turn our national forest into their private haul road—and it’s up to us to stop it. For over two years,…
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Bankrupt coal company cited for releasing ‘sludge’ into West Virginia’s Gauley River watershed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2025 CONTACT Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (276) 289-1018, dan@appvoices.org Company run by Richmond-area financier Greg Whirley Jr. has received 113 citations in four years CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West…
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Abandoned mine land cleanup disrupted by federal funding freeze
By Dan Radmacher, Appalachian VoicesAs the Appalachian region is experiencing intense rainfall this week, the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement…
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Environmental groups sue to challenge mountaintop removal mine on Coal River Mountain
The Plaintiffs Seek a Court Order Vacating a Previously Approved Clean Water Act PermitOn Feb. 19, 2025, Coal River Mountain Watch, the West…
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Thoughts from our President
Dear friends and fellow lovers of the Highlands,Over many years as a member of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, I’ve seen many battles…
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Environmental Groups Sue to Challenge Mountaintop Removal Mine on Coal River Mountain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Contact Vernon Haltom Executive Director, Coal River Mountain Watch 216-338-6003 vernon@crmw.net Willie Dodson Coal Impacts Program Manager, Appalachian Voices 276-870-5843 willie@appvoices.org Bianca Sanchez Associate Press Secretary, Sierra Club bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org Olivia Miller Program Director, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy (304)…
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STATEMENT: Coal company’s bankruptcy filing reflects growing pressure to end reckless mining in West Virginia
Rocky Run Surface Mine in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Photo courtesy of Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2025 CONTACT Olivia Miller, Program Director, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy,…
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Federal regulators shut down illegal WV coal haul road—Interior quietly reopens it at company’s request
Coal trucks travel along Haulroad #2 in the Monongahela National Forest. (Photo courtesy Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance Air Force) By Olivia Miller, West Virginia Highlands…
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Federal regulators issue notice to DEP for failing to enforce environmental protections at Greenbrier County coal mines
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A notice issued by federal coal mining regulators today outlines the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s failures to address persistent problems at a set of…
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