Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards

Victory! DMME upholds decision to Deny Ison Rock Ridge Mountaintop Removal Permit

meegee — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:51:36 +0000

Residents of Town of Appalachia Applaud Denial of Ison Rock Ridge Surface Mine

BIG STONE GAP, VA – Late last week the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) upheld its February decision to deny the Ison Rock Ridge Surface mine permit after an appeal by A&G, the coal company applying for the permit.… Read the rest

Gospel Benefit Singing for Appalachia Food Bank

Alice Rogers — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:15:40 +0000

SAMS is sponsoring an evening of gospel singing to benefit the Appalachia Food Bank! Musicians featured will include John Stines, Flo Patterson, Claxton Creek, and J.R. & Karen Sexton.

Event details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013
Time: 5 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Parking Lot of The Appalachian Towers apartment complex
Admission: Please bring a non-perishable food donation, or a monetary gift for the food bank.… Read the rest

Spring Greens and Edibles Workshop

MHepler — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:57:45 +0000

Saturday, June 1, 2013
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Meet at the SAMS office
511 Main St.
Appalachia, VA

SAMS is sponsoring a worship on edibles and spring greens available in this region. This workshop is presented by ACES (Appalachian Community Economic Series). Come out and join us in gathering edible plants, preparing food, eating a delicious lunch, and discussing the experience!… Read the rest

Subject: The ACE Project: Help Stop Mountaintop Removal Where You Live

MHepler — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:03:40 +0000

Water is the most valuable resources that we have. But in Appalachia, our water runs black, orange and white. Right now mountaintop removal coal mining is destroying our streams and drinking water wells — with your help we can better protect our water.

The Appalachian Citizens Enforcement (ACE) Project is providing groups near you with water-testing equipment and training resources.… Read the rest

Know Your Rights Workshop

MHepler — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:16:58 +0000

Do you have problems with bad water, blasting, damage to your property or dust from coal operations?

Have you reported issues that the state or companies have not dealt with? Concerned about future operations in your area?

You are invited to a workshop on citizens rights and company obligations under the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA).… Read the rest

Groups Petition U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Water Quality Standard in Appalachia to Protect Communities from Mountaintop Removal Mining Pollution

MHepler — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:07:23 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of Appalachian and national groups pressed the Environmental Protection Agency on May 7th, for stronger protection for their waters from the most extreme form of coal mining, mountaintop removal.

In a formal petition for rulemaking, 15 Appalachian local, regional, and national groups are petitioning the EPA to set a numeric water quality standard under the Clean Water Act to protect streams in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, and Pennsylvania from pollution caused by mountaintop removal mining.… Read the rest

Residents of Appalachia Applaud DMME Denial of Ison Rock Ridge Surface Mine

MHepler — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:57:34 +0000

Community Groups Cheer Rejection of Dangerous Surface Mine

The town and coal camps of Appalachia can breathe a sigh of relief today after learning that A & G Coal Corporation has been denied a permit to strip mine Ison Rock Ridge near Appalachia. The 1,200-acre permit, located behind the town of Appalachia and between the coal camps of Inman and Derby, would have had intense impacts on residents already affected by decades of mountaintop removal coal mining.… Read the rest

Rallies to unlock clean water and a healthy future for Appalachia

meegee — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:20:25 +0000

Appalachian citizens and allies from across the region are holding a unified day of action at the regional EPA offices in Philadelphia and Atlanta to tell EPA that the state governments of Central Appalachia are failing to protect communities against devastating water pollution caused by surface coal mining. The EPA has the power to stand up and protect the people of Central Appalachia.

… Read the rest

SAMS Elections 2013

MHepler — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:37:34 +0000

SAMS Elections are this Tuesday, March the 19th.
SAMS members please come and join us to vote in our annual elections. Anyone who has paid their dues in the past year, but before March the 9th is eligible to vote.
The nominees for this year are as follows:

President: Sam Broach
Vice President: Jane Branham
Secretary: Barbara Williamson
Treasurer: Adam Wells
Board Positions (2 open): Ben Hooper, Ina Mullins, Robert Patrick.… Read the rest

Coal Industry Costs Virginians Millions of Dollars Every Year

meegee — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:09:12 +0000

December 12, 2012

New report suggests shifting money to diversify coalfield economies

Richmond, VA – The coal industry and coal-related activities cost Virginia $22 million more than was paid by these businesses in taxes, fees and other revenue to state coffers in fiscal year 2009, according to a report released today that is the first analysis of the full financial impact of the coal industry on the Commonwealth.… Read the rest