Mineworkers’ Unions Sue Trump Administration Over Lack of COVID-19 Safety Rules
Unions say coal miners are at a high risk for COVID-19 because of cramped quarters and exposure to silica and diesel emissions.
coal
Former Minelands Get an Ecological Do-Over
Replanting reclaimed mine sites with native trees is part of an effort to do mine reclamation right a second time around.
A Struggling Coal Industry Is Getting Hammered by Coronavirus
“Just about everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong for the coal industry.” Demand for coal is down 35-40% this year.
EPA Rolls Back Air Regulations for Waste Coal Plants in Western Pa., W.Va.
The industry argued that waste coal isn't high enough quality to meet the pollution standards. Environmental groups say the move is bad for public health.
Mine Workers’ Union Wants More Protections Against COVID-19
They say miners are at particular risk: “They get dressed, travel down the elevator together…work in confined spaces, breathe the same air, operate the same equipment, and use the same shower facilities.”
Amid Climate Debate And Coal’s Decline, West Virginia Considers a ‘Just Transition’
In West Virginia, some are beginning to discuss life after coal. “We’re in it. We’re in the transition. It’s going to get worse before it gets better."
Feds Lower Coal Mine Cleanup Funding for Pennsylvania
One reason: less coal mining means less money to clean up the 300,000 acres of abandoned mine lands and the 5,000 miles of waterways polluted from coal mining in the state.
Assessing the Damage from Mining: a 5 Year Report
One thing the report found was that the information system to track impacts dates back to the 1990s. Another finding is that coal companies are buying up land that they are mining under.
Study: Replacing Coal Plants with Natural Gas Cut Pollution, Saved Lives
The study found an estimated 26,000 lives were saved by replacing coal with natural gas, but health impacts from fracking weren't considered in the study.
Appalachia’s Strip-Mined Mountains Face a Growing Climate Risk: Flooding
A new analysis of satellite imagery shows how a section of West Virginia with the most strip-mine damage from the coal industry is also the most susceptible to increased streamflow.
