The grassroots group Friends of Perry State Forest formed to fight a proposed 550-acre strip mine in Southeast Ohio's Perry State Forest. A key public meeting is set for Feb. 26. [ Read More ]
BLOGGER INDEX
Willie Dodson
A Virginia native who now splits his time between Johnson City, Tenn., and Wise County, Va., Willie has organized with environmental and social justice campaigns in the region for more than a decade. He is Appalachian Voices' Central Appalachian Field Coordinator.Community resists proposed strip mine in Ohio State Forest
Monday, February 18th, 2019 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
Underground mine blowout causes flood, property damage in Virginia
Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
Accumulated water bursting out of one of CM Mining, LLC’s operations in Hurley, VA, causes flooding and property damage in nearby neighborhood. [ Read More ]
Cuts to funding for black lung benefits
Friday, January 25th, 2019 | Posted by Willie Dodson | 1 Comment
Despite significant grassroots pressure, an excise tax that pays into a healthcare and disability fund for miners with black lung was slashed in half. The lack of action by Congress amounts to a tax break for coal companies while putting benefits for former miners and their families at risk. [ Read More ]
Southwest Virginia group challenges surface mine proposed near UVA-Wise
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
The mining company’s executive is the former head of the corporation responsible for the 2004 mining accident that killed 3-year-old Jeremy Davidson. [ Read More ]
Black lung survivors take their case to Congress
Tuesday, October 16th, 2018 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
Residents of Southwest Virginia went to Washington, D.C., to tell Congress about the plight of their neighbors, friends, family members and other coal miners with black lung disease.
[ Read More ]
Public events at the Water Justice Summit in Blacksburg
Wednesday, May 16th, 2018 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
The public is invited to a public art reception and an expert panel discussion in conjunction with the upcoming Water Justice Summit in Blacksburg this June. Check it out! [ Read More ]
Alpha Natural Resources wants to use Coal River Mountain as a tire dump
Thursday, April 19th, 2018 | Posted by Willie Dodson | 1 Comment
The case of Republic Energy makes it clear that the deck is still stacked in favor of the coal industry. But that has never dissuaded Coal River Mountain Watch from challenging the industry and the agencies that enable it. [ Read More ]
Coal River Mountain is not a dump
Wednesday, April 11th, 2018 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
Proposed revisions to the Collins Fork Permit do not meet any reclamation standards set forth to restore ecosystems, forests or garner resources for the community. [ Read More ]
Massive mountaintop removal mine threatens Clearfork Valley
Thursday, September 14th, 2017 | Posted by Willie Dodson | 4 Comments
The Clearfork Valley of Tennessee has been intensely surface-mined going back decades. Now, Kopper Glo Mining is moving forward with a nearly 1,500-acre mountaintop removal mine on nearby Cooper Ridge. [ Read More ]
Keeping the mountain in Coal River Mountain
Monday, July 31st, 2017 | Posted by Willie Dodson | 1 Comment
Local groups like Coal River Mountain Watch and Kanawha Forest Coalition are critical to protecting communities living near mountaintop removal mines in West Virginia. Appalachian Voices is helping them monitor mining activities and permits.
[ Read More ]
Southwest Virginians speak out against Doe Branch Mine
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 | Posted by Willie Dodson | No Comments
“God gave us the water so we can stay clean, and so we can drink it. I don’t want poison in the water.” Those are the words of 6-year-old Levi Marney, spoken to representatives of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy at a public meeting about the proposed Doe Branch mountaintop removal mine in Haysi. [ Read More ]
West Virginia files Clean Water Act suit against Kanawha County mine
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016 | Posted by Willie Dodson | Comments Off on West Virginia files Clean Water Act suit against Kanawha County mine
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has brought a lawsuit against Keystone Industries over Clean Water Act violations at the KD #2 surface mine in southern Kanawha County, W.Va., adjacent to the Kanawha State Forest.
[ Read More ]
