Appalachian Voices Updates: More challenges for Protecting the Enviroment

Submitted by Willa Mays, Executive Director for Appalachian Voices

Last week, as the new Congress debated the federal budget, several members decided to seize the opportunity to score some goodies for Big Coal.

Rep. John Yarmuth defends the mountains of Kentucky on the floor of the House of Representatives.

In the wee hours of Friday night, the House passed amendments designed to give a green light to new mountaintop removal mines and cut funding to the EPA, annihilating the agency’s ability to work on critical issues like coal ash. These revenue-neutral amendments do nothing to reduce the federal budget deficit, and were designed solely to prevent the EPA and other government agencies from enforcing clean air and clean water laws, even with a majority of Americans expressing firm support for the agency.

Your support has made it possible for us to maintain a steady drumbeat in the halls of Congress, helping educate decision makers and enabling us to bring ordinary citizens to Washington, D.C., to tell their personal stories of fouled water and lost mountains. And we will continue working to defeat these amendments in the Senate and ensure a Presidential veto.

The coal industry may be defiant and determined to proceed on an unregulated and reckless path, but with the help of people like you, we can stop them in their tracks.

Clean Water Act is Under Attact
Federal and State Legislation Threatens Our Waterways

Bills in the U.S. Congress as well as the state of Virginia seek to undermine the protection of our waterways and citizens from mountaintop removal coal mining. Here is the rundown:

Congress hits below the money belt:
Last week, Congressional representatives in the U.S. House voted on several amendments to the federal budget bill which would prevent the EPA and other agencies from enforcing coal-related clean water regulations (reps have also introduced these amendments as stand-alone bills in the house). Due to your efforts, we have the momentum needed to defeat these amendments in the Senate.  See how your rep voted and send them a message

Virginia Senate's assault on water: The Virginia State Senate recently passed legislation to restrict the state’s ability to use water quality testing to monitor discharges from coal strip mines. Virginia already suffers high levels of toxic metals below mine sites, declines in stream life and higher levels of heart, lung and kidney disease in the regions closest to mountaintop removal operations. 
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Appalachian Voices is an award-winning, environmental non-profit committed to protecting the land, air and water of the central and southern Appalachian region. The organization is located at 191 Howard St, Boone, NC