TheAppalachian Voice March-May 2010

Coal AND THE NATIONAL AGENDA

Also Inside: Revisiting the TVA Coal Ash Disaster Two Miles to Hell: A Miner’s Story East Coast Bats and White Nose Syndrome Pa g e 2 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

The APPALACHIAN VOICE A publication of

191 Howard Street • Boone, NC 28607 1-877-APP-VOICE www.AppalachianVoices.org Appalachian Voices bringsAPPALACHIAN people together to solve VOICES the environmental problems having the greatest impact on the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Our mission is to empower people to defend our region’s rich natural and cultural heritage by providing them with tools and strategies for successful grassroots campaigns. Appalachian Voices sponsors the Upper French Broad River Park, Asheville, N.C., Photo by Kyle Wolff Watauga Riverkeeper® and is also a Member of the Waterkeeper® Alliance.

Ed i t o r -At-La r g e Bill Kovarik A Note From Our Executive Director Ma n a g i n g Ed i t o r Jamie Goodman As s o c i a t e Ed i t o r Maureen Halsema Whew! What a winter! I know we have all appreciated the warm sanctuaries of Ed i to r i al As s i s t a n t / Distribution Ma n a g e r Julie Johnson our homes each time we walk in from the howling winter. It has made me think a lot Vo i c e In t e r n Zach Ollis about how we generate our heat and the real cost of our electricity. Appalachian Voices Staff I recently heard Amory Lovins speak in Salisbury, N.C., at the Catawba College Center for the Environment. Amory is a visionary who visibly demonstrates that em-

Ex e c u t i ve Di r e c t o r ...... Willa Mays ploying current technologies in renewable energy and energy efficiency will translate Pr o g r am s Di r e c t o r ...... Matt Wasson into more job growth, higher profitability, and increased national security as compared Campa i g n Di r e c t o r ...... Lenny Kohm to our overreliance on coal. Devel o pme n t & Co mm u n i c a t i o n s Di r e c t o r ...... Sandra Diaz However, it is easier to maintain the status quo than to strike down new paths In-Ho u s e Co u n s el ...... Scott Gollwitzer of innovation. It is our responsibility, as individuals and as a society, to demand that OPERATIONS change. Right now, pollution from the life cycle of coal is disfig- Ope r a t i o n s Ma n a g e r ...... Susan Congelosi uring our treasured Appalachian landscape and is polluting Ad m i n i s t r at i ve As s o c i a t e ...... Shay Boyd PROGRAMS our air and water. We believe it is possible to get what we need without destroying what we love. As a leader in protecting the Le g i s la t i ve As s o c i a t e ...... J.W. Randolph Na t i o n al Fi el d Co o r d i n a t o r ...... Stephanie Pistello environment, Appalachian Voices is committed to spurring the Vi r g i n i a Di r e c t o r ...... Tom Cormons transition towards a cleaner energy future. Your help is critical Vi r g i n i a Fi el d Or g a n i z e r ...... Mike McCoy towards realizing this vision. No r t h Ca r o l i n a Fi el d Co o r d i n a t o r ...... Austin Hall Warm wishes for a beautiful Appalachian Spring! Uppe r Wa t a u g a Ri ve r k eepe r ...... Donna Lisenby Ame r i c o r p s Ri ve r k eepe r As s o c i a t e ...... Eric Chance Willa Technology & Communications Te c h n o l o g i s t ...... Benji Burrell IT Spe c i al i s t ...... Jeff Deal Co mm u n i c a t i o n s Co o r d i n a t o r ...... Jamie Goodman Ame r i c o r p s Ed u c a t i o n a n d Ou t r ea c h ...... Maureen Halsema Inside this issue INTERNS In f o r ma t i o n & Vo l u n t ee r Co o r d i n a t i o n In t e r n ...... Jed Grubbs Regulars Ad m i n i s t r at i ve In t e r n ...... Tootise Jablonski Dvel o pme n t a n d Mem b e r s h i p As s i s t a n t ...... Parker Stevens Ad m i n i s t r at i ve Wo r k s t u d y ...... Georgia Bowen Across Appalachia...... p. 18

Hiking the Highlands: Appalachian Trail...... p. 20

AV Book Club...... p. 21

Appalachian Voices Board of Directors Opinions and Editorials...... p. 23 Cover photo: Ch a i r ------Christina Howe Inside Appalachian Voices...... p. 24 Independent photojournalist Antrim Caskey, Vi c e Ch a i r ------Heidi Binko creator of the photojournalistic exposé on Se c r e t a r y ------Matthew Anderson-Stembridge Naturalists Notebook...... p. 27 mountaintop removal, “Dragline,” looks out over the destruction of Kayford Mountain, At Large: Brenda Boozer, Mary Anne Hitt, Brenda Huggins, Kathy Get Involved!...... p. 28 W.Va., from Hell’s Gate, July 4, 2008. Photo Selvage, Bunk Spann, Pat Watkins courtesy of Appalachia Watch

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 3 Coal Controversy Rises on the National Agenda

ontroversy over the Inside this issue environmental costs Legislation Update—Coal issues in the political arena p. 4 of coal – from moun- Ctaintop removal to ash spills, Carbon Capture and Storage—A controversial new technology hits the from black lung disease to the forefront of President Obama’s energy policy. What do the scientists think? p. 5 toll on Appalachian communi- Blair Mountain - The battle to protect the historic site continues p. 7 ties – has moved from the Ap- A Tale of Two Counties—A resource extraction county struggles palachian region to the center as its supplies declines while another Appalachian county invests in of the national agenda. ecotourism and begins to boom p. 8 The conflict is increas- Voices from the Field—Citizen activist Cathie Bird strives ingly reflected in national to build bridges in the coalfield communities p. 10 media, in protests, and in the Two Miles to Hell—A miner’s story p. 11 courts. Faced with staggering Civil Standoff—An environmentalist and a coal baron meet on problems and outstanding neutral territory to discuss climate change, economics and opportunities, Appalachia mountaintop removal p. 12 has arrived at a crossroads. Tennessee’s Valdez—Over a year after the TVA coal ash spill, The standoff over moun- residents share their health, financial, and legal concerns p. 14 taintop removal mining is The Toxic Truth—As cleanup efforts continue, the debate of where and how the most serious problem in to dispose of the ash begins to boil p. 17 the coalfields today. Envi- ronmentalists and coalfield residents fear they are losing been canceled outright, and eastern half of the nation. entire forest ecosystems and the rest are uncertain or are on Few are suggesting a sudden watersheds, while miners in hold, according to a tally kept end to coal production, but many are by the Sierra Club. proposing a shift to a 21st century the coalfields fear they are los- ca’s least favorite energy option. Meanwhile, scientists are docu- economy, with cleaner, safer ways of ing their livelihoods. Yet investments Some electric utilities are breaking menting “irreversible environmental producing energy and generating in renewable energy and coal cleanup ranks, finding that coal is an unattract- impacts” from mountaintop removal employment. have the potential to help the region ive option compared with investments mining, and many studies have shown For those who seek a practical ap- beyond fears into the future. in conservation and renewable energy risk of serious health problems from proach to clean water, breathable air The response from the coal indus- that entail far less liability and financial mining and burning coal and dispos- and ageless mountains for their grand- try has been an uninspiring and often risk. As of March of 2010, only 26 ing of coal ash waste. children, the stakes are enormous. comic advertising campaign. The pub- percent of the 231 coal-fired power Water protection is a special prob- Can the Appalachian dilemma lic doesn’t buy it. Opinion polls (such plants originally proposed in the past lem, as Appalachia is the headwaters become the American example? as an ABC News/Washington Post poll) decade have been built or are under for much of the water supplies for the show that coal continues to be Ameri- construction. Some 57 percent have

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 4 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Legislation Update: Coal in the Political Arena By Maureen Halsema introduced in 2005. 100 feet of any Tennessee water system. Feb. 11, in front of the Senate Agriculture, This year, Sen. Kathy Stein submitted the A permit that would improve the quality Conservation and National Resources Coal has been a keyword in many re- Stream Saver Bill (S. 139) to the state Senate and of a body of water previously impacted Committee in Richmond, Va., the commit- cent political discussions across the nation Rep. Tom Riner submitted the bill (H.R. 396) to by mining practices would, however, be tee voted on Feb. 15, to carry the bill over as bills addressing mountaintop removal the Kentucky House of Representatives. eligible for issuance or renewal. for consideration in 2011. and coal wastes have been submitted to “We are also working on drafting legisla- Another provision of the bill would “While it will not be voted on this year, state and national legislatures for review. tion that would go beyond this, that would be prohibit permits that would certify surface it provided a unique opportunity to raise the Clean Water Protection Act / a ban on mountaintop removal,” said KFTC. mining at and above 2,000 feet elevation level of awareness about mountaintop removal Appalachia Restoration Act Tennessee Scenic Vistas from sea level if it would disturb a ridge- in Virginia,”said a spokesman for the environ- The Clean Water Protection Act (H.R. Protection Act line. The exception to this rule would be if mental coalition Wise Energy for Virginia. “We 1310) in the U.S. House of Representatives the permit required some surface mining look forward to continuing to educate legisla- and the Appalachia Restoration Act (S. 696) in The Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection in order to conduct underground mining, tors and citizens over the rest of the year so that the U.S. Senate would amend the Clean Water Act (S. 1406/H.R. 899), also known as the if approved by TDEC. we can have an even larger impact during next Water Quality Control Act, would limit the Act to protect waterways from valley fills as- VA Stream Saver Bill year’s Virginia General Assembly.” sociated with mountaintop removal. These Tennessee Department of Environment and The Virginia Stream Saver Bill, (S. 564) West Virginia Sludge two bills have been presented to Congress Conservation (TDEC) from approving cer- would end the burial of headwater streams Safety Bill and continue to gain cosponsors. tain types of surface mining permits based in Virginia with wastes from mountaintop As of February 26, 164 congressional on outlined conditions. The bill was intro- The Sludge Safety Bill, (S. 568) would removal coal mining. cosponsors support the Clean Water Pro- duced to the Tennessee House of Represen- prohibit issuing any new permits or modi- According the Stream Saver Bill, intro- tection Act and 10 senators are cosponsor- tatives by Reps. Bill Dunn and Michael Ray, fying previously issued permits for coal duced by Senator Patricia Ticer, “No spoil, ing the Appalachia Restoration Act. while Sens. Bill Ketron and Doug Jackson slurry sites in West Virginia. refuse, silt, slurry, tailings, or other waste mate- From March 6 to 10, concerned citizens introduced it to the Tennessee Senate. A study was mandated by Senate Con- rials from coal surface mining and reclamation from the coalfields and across the nation According to the text of the bill, per- current Resolution 15 in March 2007, and the operations will be disposed of in any intermit- will gather in Washington D.C., to speak mits would not be issued or renewed if the results were submitted to the State Legislature tent, perennial, or ephemeral stream.” to Congress about this legislation. surface mining operation or its waste, fill for review. or in-stream treatment takes place within After the state held a public hearing on In the West Virginia Department of Envi- Kentucky Stream Saver Bill ronmental Protection’s (WVDEP) report, “An The Stream Saver Bill (H.R. 104), is Evaluation of the Underground Injection of Coal a proposal to amend previous legislation Federal Alphabet Soup: What the Agencies Are Up To Slurry in West Virginia,” the agency concluded which relates to Kentucky’s “Restoration Since the change in administrations in January, pundits to believe that EPA officials may take a that “Effective immediately, the WVDEP will of approximate original contour” regula- 2009, federal agencies have taken a more active less regulatory approach to the substance. impose a moratorium on the approval of injec- stance with coal industry issues. Following is a tion. The proposed bill would prohibit U.S. Government Accountability Office— tion of coal slurry into mine voids in which brief rundown of the past several months: permits from allowing the disposal of toxic This January, the GAO released a second coal slurry injection has not previously been coal mining wastes into Kentucky water- Environmental Protection Agency— report on mountaintop removal coal mining approved under the modern era program.” ways. In addition to managing the waste Although last year the EPA put more than which highlights the extensive damage that Coal slurry sites are areas that coal 70 mountaintop removal mining permits mountaintop removal coal mining causes to disposal, the bill would also require that through a more stringent review process, the land and water – as well as the challenges companies are permitted to inject coal slur- surface mined areas be reclaimed to their this January the agency approved several presented in the reclamation process. ry into abandoned underground mines, approximate original contour taking into permits, including an expansion at the Hobet such as in Mingo and Boone counties. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation complex in West Virginia, a mining operation account both the configuration and the and Enforcement—Joe Pizarchik, the Currently, the Sludge Safety Project—a that currently exceeds 16,000 acres. area’s elevation prior to the introduction new OSMRE director, recently toured the collaborative effort between several West The EPA is also in the process of reviewing of mining practices. Appalachian coalfield region and met with Virginia organizations—is composing a uni- coal ash as a hazardous waste following the citizens, promising to increase enforcement According to the Kentuckians for the TVA coal ash disaster in 2008, though recent fied Slurry Bill to be introduced in the State and listening to concerns. Commonwealth (KFTC), this bill was the comments from the agency have led some Senate and House during the 2010 session. first of its kind when it was originally

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 5 High Stakes Gamble With Carbon Capture Technologies

By Bill Kovarik issues. EPA’s endangerment finding for CO2 has made this A high stakes effort to research area even more complicated. carbon dioxide capture and storage The biggest worry is that an (CCS) technology is advancing with accidental release of CO2 almost $2 billion in research and could be deadly. In 1986, a development grants, the Obama natural volcanic cloud of administration announced this about 1.6 million tons of CO2 February. poured out of Lake Nyos in Four projects in West Virginia, Cameroon (Africa), killing Texas, Illinois and Alabama were 1,700 people. slated in February for stimulus Carbon capture and stor- funding. age systems, however, are Dominion Energy’s Wise Coun- different. According to Nino ty, Va., power project, long touted as Ripepi of Virginia Tech’s an advanced “clean” coal project, did Center for Coal and Energy not make the list. And the Alabama On August 21, 1986, Cameroon’s Lake Nyos suddenly released a massive cloud of CO2 Research, the deep saline project has been cancelled by an elec- into the air. The emission suffocated 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock (right) in the formations being used by tric utility based in Georgia. The three surrounding area. Though this was a natural CO2 deposit, it raises concerns among the new CCS projects are remaining projects will involve utility some scientists about what could happen if CO2 artificially injected into the earth were over a mile and a half deep, and coal industry contributions along to escape. Top photo by USGS, right photo by Jack Lockwood, USGS and monitoring can be with federal funding. “stacked” to show leakage A new federal task force will also uct is bad business even if it works--and widely used; from a storage reservoir at propose a plan “to overcome the barriers ‘enviros’ will probably come after CCS if • Deep saline struc- many levels, long before it to the widespread, cost-effective deploy- it begins to be very widespread.” tures, with hun- reaches the surface. ment of CCS within 10 years, with a goal Others support the research. dreds of gigatons “You can bet a lot of en- of bringing 5 to 10 commercial demonstra- “It’s one thing to argue that coal is of storage capac- gineers are taking this very tion projects online by 2016,” the White not a viable technology because of moun- ity in formations seriously,” Ripepi said. House said. taintop removal mining, because of air 9,000 feet deep; EPA, especially, is working At stake is the future use of coal to pollution, or because of coal ash disposal and on licensing and safety standards. generate electricity while at the same issues,” said Steven Smith of the Southern • Coal bed methane deposits, more Another problem with CCS is that the time holding down carbon dioxide (CO2) Alliance for Clean Energy. typical in Appalachia, around 4,000 sheer volume of the infrastructure needed emissions and staving off future climate “But we need an honest assessment of feet deep. for a serious long range CO2 reduction change. carbon capture technologies,” Smith said. One drawback to coal bed methane is program is daunting. CCS technology involves pulling CO2 “We support the Department of Energy’s that “production water” from gas fields Energy analyst Vaclav Smil has point- from the smokestacks of conventional coal research in this area.” needs to be either treated or reinjected in ed out that even a 10 percent CCS program power plants or from the incoming gas of non-freshwater aquifers. This is a major CCS technology isn’t cheap for all global CO2 emissions would be the more advanced coal plants. The advanced issue in shale gas development in Penn- The technology to separate carbon size of the entire global oil industry. coal gas plants have strong advantages in sylvania. dioxide from other gases has long been “Even if we were to embrace this terms of efficiently capturing CO2, but Also, coal bed methane fields are closer known, but only in the past decade has second-rate option, the magnitude of the only a few of these new integrated gasifica- to the surface and have a wider footprint, research focused on the most economi- enterprise needed to make a real difference tion and combined cycle plants are under which means more landowners would cal processes for separating enormous will defeat us,” Smil said. construction. have to be involved in negotiating liability volumes of gas. CCS research has skeptics The cost of carbon capture depends on and supporters various assumptions, but estimates range Both environmentalists and coal from a 25 percent increase to a doubling of company executives have been skeptical electricity costs to consumers, who already us oun of CCS. M ic e M tai pay an average of 12 cents per kilowatt fr th ns “Geological carbon sequestration is om hour nationwide. Offering a diverse mix of a joke,” said Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of the CCS is new and music and informative programming Waterkeepers Alliance in a West Virginia potentially risky for the diverse heart of Appalachia. debate over coal and the environment held Broadcast from Your listener supported radio, WMMT. While the oil industry routinely uses Jan. 21, 2010. the Appalshop CO2 to force oil up from aging fields, in “That’s true,” responded Don Blan- a process called “enhanced oil recovery,” kenship of Massey Energy Co. large-scale storage has never been tried. “The costs will be prohibitive,” Blan- Three major approaches to geological kenship said previously, in a November storage are contemplated, according to the 2009 interview with The Hill, a Washington Department of Energy: D.C., political magazine. “Basically, spend- • Oil and gas fields, where CO2 is 91 Madison Ave., Whitesburg, Ky • (606)633-0108 • www.wmmtfm.org ing capital to triple the costs of your prod- Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 6 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 7 The Battle Over Blair Mountain Rages On By Bill Kovarik Service Interim Keeper of the Na- tional Register, Carol Shull, granted The fight to preserve West Vir- the request to delist. Shull and Smith ginia’s Blair Mountain Battlefield both refused to comment for this has taken a new turn. Headlines in The New York Times article. Preservation advocates between August 26 and September However, a park service web thought they had won in March 4, 1921, tell the story of the historic site notes that delisting usually 2009 when the site was formally battle of Blair Mountain. Since the occurs when “property is altered listed on the federal National 1980s, a group of historians and so that it has lost its ability to Register of Historic Places. archeologists worked to have the convey its national significance.” However, the site was “de-list- ridge listed on the National Historic Most examples of delisting in- ed” in December 2009 at the request Register in order to protect it from a surface mine permit. In 2009, the site clude historic houses where there of state authorities who claimed was added to the National Historic has been a fire or a long period of that re-counted property owners’ Register, but was promptly delisted neglect. opinions supported them. a few months later after the West “This action does not stand Preservationists said the re- Virginia State Historic Preservation alone but is part of a deliberate ef- count was flawed and are making Officer contested the results. fort to erase Appalachian history,” plans for a court appeal. said Wess Harris, editor of “When The 1921 Battle Miners March,” a book document- Blair Mountain is the site of a five-day “I just hated to see it be destroyed,” Virginia State Historic Preservation Of- ing the union’s side of the battle of battle between over 10,000 union miners King said. ficer Randall Reid-Smith claimed to have Blair Mountain. and the coal industry in August 1921. The complex process of protecting the discovered eight letters, which had been “We have been wondering why the Thousands of shots were exchanged, and historical site began in the 1990s. It became “unintentionally not counted.” This, Smith State Historic Preservation Officer worked an estimated 30 men died. more complex with the state government’s claimed, changed the count of landown- so hard to get the battlefield off the Regis- The battle was “a spontaneous out- refusal to help King and others, such as, ers to 30 who did not agree with historic ter list,” said Ayers. pouring of rage and grief over conditions West Virginia University historian Barbara preservation and 27 who did. Since it is still eligible for listing, West in the southern coalfields,” according to Rasmussen and Appalachian State Univer- But in September 2009, Ayers and Virginia state officials said that this status Friends of Blair Mountain. The specific sity archaeologist Harvard Ayers. West Virginia attorney John Kennedy “offers protection from federally funded spark was the murder of Sheriff Sid Hat- For years, the review process bounced Bailey found serious errors in Reid-Smith’s or licensed adverse actions.” field by coal company detectives on the back and forth between the West Virginia list. Two property owners who had sup- Not so, according to a February 2010 steps of the McDowell County Courthouse. office of historic preservation and the posedly objected to historic designation legal analysis. By law, the state, not the No one was ever charged in the murder. National Park Service. In 2006, Ayers and were actually deceased, and ten more federal government, can decide what The miners marched to Logan, W.Va., King performed archaeological surveys property owners had been overlooked. should be done with unprotected histori- to express their outrage and rescue im- of the battle site. Many others added Smith, who is not a trained historian, did cal property. This can include issuing mine prisoned miners in Mingo County. They their support, including the Society for not dispute the findings, but refused to permits. were stopped by thousands of paid coal Historical Archeology and the Society of reconsider the delisting. The delisting will be appealed in industry employees who had taken up American Archeology. “The West Virginia bureaucracy has court, and a letter writing campaign to fortified positions at Blair Mountain. Cecil Roberts, president of United ignored any information that contradicts the National Park Service is under way, The battle ended peacefully when Mine Workers of America (UMWA), said their own cursory and flawed research,” according to the Friends of Blair Mountain. federal troops arrived. Union miners sur- in 2005: “The UMWA has always believed Ayers said. For more information visit FriendsOfBlair- rendered their weapons, and most were the Blair Mountain battle site should be On Dec. 30, 2009, the National Park mountain.org. allowed to go home. About 200 leaders, preserved…What (the miners) did is a including union organizer Bill Blizzard, source of pride and inspiration to our were tried for murder and treason the next families, and helps give us the strength year. But a jury refused to convict, and to carry on their fight for justice. We will Blair Mountain became a rallying cry for never forget it, nor should America.” organized labor in the 1920s and 30s. Finally, on March 30, 2009, the Park The 1989 - 2009 battle Service announced that the battlefield site Historians say the Battle of Blair had won a place on the register. Preserva- Mountain was the largest insurrection in tionists believed they had won. U.S. history since the Civil War. Hundreds The “de-listing” of Blair of books and historical papers have been Mountain written about the battle. Historic significance is not the most When a coal company announced important criteria for historic preservation plans for a surface mine at Blair Mountain, under current federal law. Property own- a grandson of one of the fighting miners ers also have to agree to the listing. who lived near the mountain, Kenny King, Shortly after the formal listing of Blair began working on preservation efforts. Mountain on the national register, West

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 8 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e A Tale of Two Counties: Economic Production vs. Environmental Protection McDowell County, W.Va.: Struggling as Coal Mining Declines

By Julie Johnson they don’t have connection to that The steep slopes and hollows of place...you don’t own the land un- McDowell County, W. Va., were once der your own feet,” said Bill Archer, a wellspring of natural resources that author of the “McDowell County” attracted business barons of the In- volume of the “Images of America” dustrial Revolution with the promise book series. of wealth. The Federal Reserve Study noted Today, after decades of resource that as of 2006, corporations—most extraction, those same mountainous of them based out-of-state—owned slopes hold little hope for financial 75 percent of the county’s land. “The gain. leases can be as short as 15 years,” the As early as 1750 the land that study states, “which often means that would later become McDowell Coun- a tenant company invests only within ty was surveyed for possible resource the life of its lease, rather than for the extraction. Toward the end of the long term in the community.” century Robert Morris, signer of the Employment opportunities are Declaration of Independence and limited at best; currently the largest founder of the Bank of America, private sector employer is Wal-Mart. acquired millions of acres of heavily The coal industry accounts for less timbered and coal-rich land in the than 20 percent of employment. In Families in coal camp homes built during McDowell’s boom years still face the tracks that have shipped Appalachian Mountains. 2000, almost 40 percent of the work- billions of tons of coal out of the county. Photo courtesy of coalcampusa.com Just after the Civil War, cartographer Je- ing age population claimed a disability of some kind, and currently one in every three didiah Hotchkiss began a survey of Central well as many other European immigrants highest concentration of poverty in the county residents between ages 18 and 64 Appalachia. Realizing the potential for profit with backgrounds in heavy labor, were United States. does not have health insurance. in the new state of West Virginia, Hotchkiss steered south from Ellis Island to construct The study noted that the county at In 2000 and 2001, two devastating began using local newspapers to inform po- the new structures that would be needed this time was an “ethnically diverse and 100-year floods swept through the county; tential investors of the financial possibilities to mine and timber in Appalachia. equitable community composed of three damage was estimated at $64 million. available in coal and timber. In 1881, Norfolk The massive migration to McDowell primary ethnic groups: local frontiersmen The floods highlighted the county’s and Western railroad sank their first tracks caused a marked boom in population, as and their descendents, black freedmen poorly funded water and flood-control in the area, and the land race was on. well as created a new cultural identity for and their descendents, and Eastern and infrastructure. Almost 65 percent of homes Business tycoons from the industrial the county that nicknamed itself the “Free Southern European immigrants and their in the county are not connected to any kind North bought parcels of land and mineral State of McDowell.” descendents.” of wastewater treatment system. Raw sew- rights. They also recruited immigrant la- A 2006 study by The Federal Reserve, As the century turned and extraction age from these residences directly enters bor to build infrastructure for the mines called “The Enduring Challenge of Con- soared, the growing population entered groundwater and streams. and surrounding towns. Alpine Italians centrated Poverty in America,” studied into a period of short-lived prosperity. A series of all terrain vehicle (ATV) skilled in mountain-region masonry, as McDowell as one of 16 counties with the Families in coal towns were at least clothed, trails around the outskirts of the county, housed and fed, though very hard-worked known as the Hatfield-McCoy Trail sys- and exposed to the dangers of early mining tem, are an attempt at boosting the local Study Finds Appalachian Coal in Decline operations. A 1912 mine explosion in the economy. These trails attract ATV riders town of Jed killed 80 miners, and a 1940 By Julie Johnson try,” McIlmoil and Hansen said. from all over the country, and are sup- explosion at Pond Creek Mine took 91. Downstream Strategies, a Morgan- The decrease in production has ported by a number of nearby gear and Between 1902 and 1964, McDowell lost town, W. Va., environmental consulting been affected by a number of factors fuel shops and campgrounds. over 500 men to mine disasters. group, released a report in January from geologic depletion to increasingly The Hatfield-McCoy Trail system is mechanized mining techniques. The 1940s and 50s saw the peak of both called “The Decline of Central Appala- known as one of the premier rides in the “Mountaintop removal mining, a McDowell’s coal production and popula- chian Coal and the Need for Economic state, and its Indian Gap trailhead boasts declining national demand for energy, tion. The two followed a sharp downward Diversification.” a shop and cafe in the recently renovated rising mining costs and erratic spot trend in the next forty years, plateauing The reports’ authors, Rory McIlmoil Ashland Company Store, a relic of the market prices all add up to fewer jobs in briefly during the energy crisis of the 1970s and Evan Hansen, found that coal pro- county’s coal years. the coal fields,” the report concludes. and then nose diving during the last part duction in the region is in a sharp, and “In McDowell, building [entrepreneur- The authors’ suggestions for eco- of the century. In 50 years, McDowell’s most likely irreversible, decline. ial] capacity and developing new avenues nomic diversification include offering population declined from over 100,000 to “Should substantial declines occur as for investment will be critical for facilitat- incentives for energy efficiency, wind and its current level of just under 20,000. projected, coal-producing counties will ing the expansion of economic opportunity face significant losses in employment and biomass-derived energy development. “When a generation leaves the county, and improving residents’ quality of life,” tax revenue, and state government will The full report can be found at they may have longing for that place, but the Federal Reserve study concludes. collect fewer taxes from the coal indus- DownstreamStrategies.com.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 9 A Tale of Two Counties: Economic Production vs. Environmental Protection Floyd County, Va.: Growing An Eco-Friendly Economy

By Julie Johnson in the form of microlending created a 37 percent increase in business establish- Southwest Virginia’s Floyd County ments between 1998 and 2008. Relaxed long relied on agriculture and textile business regulations have maintained production. Now, the county is home to a these start-ups. steadily growing economy and population After promoting small businesses, that supports locally owned businesses developers support cultural enhance- and artisans. ments that make Floyd a unique and Floyd is host to a popular annual exciting destination and stimulate interest world music festival, FloydFest, and in town life. draws crowds of summer tourists from the “We hope to continue to further 33 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway that pass develop the entrepreneurial spirit here through it. Renewable energy initiatives by being a vital community with local have seen a sharp growth recently, and foods, strong telecommunications, live nearby universities supply a steady flow music downtown five days per week, of skilled workers. arts classes and great recreational assets,” When Floyd was established in the says Martin. early 19th century, county residents sur- Beyond supporting downtown retail vived largely on agriculture. Tobacco and and food service establishments, Martin wool were commonly traded goods. also hopes to help Floyd’s farmers by less- Mineral deposits were minor in Floyd As the county continues to promote locally grown foods, Floyd’s farmers are able to move from ening their dependence on the large-scale and after a brief period of copper mining, contracting with large-scale, agriculture giants to becoming viable, independent producers for their agricultural industry. the practice was largely abandoned in the neighbors. Photo courtesy of Fred First. This begins with helping small farm- area. Major freight lines were never laid ers find new markets for their products. in the county. This migration ignited a strong ar- lowest wages in the state, yet their pov- Community developers like Martin are During the early 20th century a small tistic and counterculture movement in erty level is far lower than that of nearby matchmaking these farmers with restau- textile industry supported the growing the area. The Jacksonville Center for Arts coalfield counties. rants, bakeries and stores whose interest population. The construction of the Blue was founded and to this day continues to “Having been discovered by visitors in local, sustainably grown food is already Ridge Parkway and jobs offered through promote creativity and rural arts. who want a piece of paradise, land prices piqued. Floyd’s farmers market continues the Civilian Conservation Corps helped During the 1990s, a cooperative have been driven up dramatically in the to grow and become a hub for biodynamic to soften the blow of the Great Depression invested in and built a high-speed fiber past 10 to 15 years. People earning local growers in the county. on the county. optics system. It has provided a swift tele- wages can rarely afford to buy land here,” “We can capitalize on our people’s After the Second World War, the popu- communications system that continues to said Lydeana Martin, Floyd’s Community knowledge of renewable energy, green lation declined—a trend that continued be a draw for entrepreneurs. and Economic Development Advisor. building, hand skills and technology so throughout the 50s and 60s. But during Despite these enhancements, as of To stimulate growth in the county, that we can really come to the table of the the 1970s, many people disenchanted with 2000, Floyd still found half of its popu- and supply long-term jobs to its residents, American economy without having to lose urban life sought out Floyd as place to get lation seeking employment outside the Floyd’s developers are taking a unique ap- our soul to do so,” Martin said. back to their rural roots. county. Its residents make some of the proach. Their support of small businesses

Severance Tax Leaves Kentucky in the Red By Julie Johnson Severance taxes are funds paid to The money that coal, timber, oil and the state by extraction industries based natural gas companies pay in severance on the amount of resources they remove. taxes is less than the subsidies provided The amounts can vary widely based on by the state to the same companies, ac- production. If production drops, so does cording to a recent study by the Mountain the amount of money a county receives Association for Community Economic from the producer. Development (MACED). The tax revenues are disbursed from MACED examined Kentucky’s 2006 the state to the county governments with revenue from the coal industry—including varying degrees of efficacy. Each state severance taxes—and found that the state may decide independently how they will made $528 million but spent $643 million allocate the money, and each county can supporting coal mining activities, leaving decide how to spend the funds; many sup- Kentucky with a $114 million deficit. port social services such as public schools, health departments and road repair.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 10 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Voices from the Field: Citizen Activist Cathie Bird is Building Bridges was all this legal back and forth happen- ing. It has been a big mess and Tennessee By Julie Johnson again. So I got here, and it was not too long Sierra, SOCM and Tennessee Clean Water after that the Zeb Mountain issue popped up. Network are suing National Coal over the Community and Environmental Advocate I went to a SOCM meeting about it, and have selenium pollution they caused in a another Cathie Bird works for Statewide Organizing for been working with them ever since. Zeb watershed. Community Empowerment (SOCM), a group Q: Tell us a little more about your ex- Q: How did you get involved with dedicated to solving social and environmental perience organizing against mountaintop SOCM’s anti-racism campaign? issues in Tennessee. Bird is the chair of the removal at Zeb Mountain. Cathie: Well, I had focused on fighting Strip Mine Issues Committee and a member of Cathie: Well, Zeb Mountain is about six mining, but SOCM is really about empowering SOCM’s Anti-racism Transformation Team. miles north of my home, so it’s not a direct all people in Tennessee to improve life in their Q: What are your first memories of impact, but I knew that there was also a permit communities. SOCM decided to take a hard environmental consciousness? Youth Conservation Corps one summer as that was going to happen just a half mile from look at itself as an organization and ask if it was Cathie: I was raised on a Kansas farm an environmental education specialist. Then me. Nothing was happening, so I thought, structured in a way that keeps people of color and I look back on that as a foundation of be- there was this huge forest fire in Colorado and well if I help them now maybe I can stop it. out of our community empowerment process. ing in touch with the earth and its processes, that summer I worked on a resources crew, Zeb Mountain had been mined a long I’ve been reading a lot of Van Jones’ although I didn’t understand a lot of them. repairing trail damaged caused by the fire. time ago and the company that applied to writing and studying how he merges the As I got older, I spent a lot of time with I kept writing, kept studying, and then open a new 2,100 acre mine said their project best of what the environmental movement family in Colorado and really got into hiking came to a spiritual awakening. I started put- would improve land and waterways dam- has accomplished and what we need to and just loving to be out in nature. I majored in ting together a deeper connection with the aged in the old days. We got a fish biologist do to address today’s challenges for jobs, Conservation at Ohio State, and went from there earth and how people relate to it and kind of from University of Tennessee to go in and poverty and our environment that affect to Michigan State’s College of Agriculture and where things went wrong with our relation- do an assessment of Dan Branch. He found everyone. One of SOCM’s newer projects majored in Parks and Recreation Administration ship to the planet and where we could be that the stream was really in pretty good is trying to figure out how to make a green with a focus in Environmental Interpretation. going if we just figured things out. shape. The larger creek it emptied into even collar economy work in Tennessee. Q: How did you begin working in Q: How did you begin working with had Blackside Dace, a federally listed fish. I still feel a split between people that conservation? SOCM? So then we said, “Why are you writing your are involved in environmental issues and Cathie: I worked at Wind Cave National Cathie: I moved here to Tennessee in 2000, permits on the basis that this stream is non- those involved in social issues. I would Park in South Dakota. I was a ranger-naturalist to a home just southeast from Huntsville, near supporting?” Not long after the permit was like to help bridge the gap. Social and and got involved in cave exploring and all Big South Fork. My neighbor is Royal Blue granted, they got a temporary shutdown or- environmental issues have a common root kinds of cool stuff. That prairie environment Wilderness Area, owned by the state of Ten- der because a huge section of haul road gave in exploitation and oppression of people was familiar from my Kansas farm childhood. nessee. There had been mining here before way and trashed that same stream. There and nature. They had a huge buffalo herd. I worked with and there was potential for it to be mined

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 11

By Daniel Alexander Hawkins Two Miles To Hell: A Miner’s Story Special to The Voice

It is 10:06 p.m. on a Sunday night and I just common sense, a strong work ethic, begin getting dressed in my high-visibility and a clean drug test. work uniforms, the trademark navy shirt “Work hard, play hard” is the motto as and pants with orange stripes identifying miners spend extravagantly to enjoy what the Appalachian coal miners in our area. little time they have off. Most of the men The children have already gone to bed are deeply in debt after buying new homes, with hugs and kisses from their daddy, and vehicles, boats, RVs, and ATVs. Some even now it’s time to bid a loving farewell to my plan what payments they can afford based wife. My body is still attempting to sort out on how much overtime they plan on work- day and night after an attempt to enjoy a ing. It is a vicious cycle that keeps coal short-lived weekend from the third shift. miners scared for their job for fear of losing I arrive at the mines and enter the everything they have, working to the advan- bathhouse to put on my boots, belt, hard tage of the coal company’s production. hat, and light. There are many workers al- Eleven o’clock rolls around and it is ready milling around drinking coffee and time to climb onto the diesel-powered discussing the evening’s football games mantrip, starting the journey into the dark- or the highlights from the Nascar series. ness. The mine roof is gray and featureless More often these days there is talk of cur- but in a surreal way I know that hundreds rent politics surrounding coal mining; of feet above me there are trees, streams, miners derogatively referring to environ- My great-grandfather was a coal miner Photo by R.L. Mullins hills and hollows, some few remaining bits mentalists as “treehuggers who need to go during the “pick and shovel days.” He of Appalachian beauty. to ongoing fatigue and sickness. without electricity for a while.” experienced the early times of the arduous The mantrip passes by a reminder of The life of a coal miner is not for Greetings to one another almost al- labor, when he had to purchase his own the Sago disaster, an underground shelter everyone. ways include the informal exchange of, tools and dynamite to extract coal he was designed to provide ninety-six hours of Many times I have wondered why “How ya doin?” met with either a half- paid for by the ton, not by the hour. breathable air and supplies. I know that, people endure these conditions--for most hearted insult or a sarcastic remark about While there is no comparison to the in truth, we are more likely to be killed in- it is purely financial. Coal mining jobs in feeling great. Everyone is trying to smoke labor intensity of mining practices con- stantaneously in a disaster than to live and our region are the most widely available their last cigarette while trying not to think ducted over a half century ago, it still make an attempt at survival within these and highest paying. Sadly, you do not need of what lies ahead in the next shift. requires a great deal of physical effort to safe havens. I put this and other thoughts to have experience, a clear criminal back- Coal mining is rigorous work even work in today’s mines. Long shifts com- Continued on page 22 ground, or even a high school diploma, with the mechanization of coal production. bined with mandatory overtime contribute Portrait Story Project Highlights Ties To Appalachia

By Jillian Varkas One of the hundreds of portraits that make up and how surface mining has impacted their the Voices for Appalachia Portrait Story Project, lives and the land. Many of the stories re- The Portrait Story project came to on display in Chattanooga, Tenn., during March lated the longing for peace to return again the southern highlands in March 2008 to in the mountains. continue a legacy of capturing images and and Asheville, N.C., during April. One man he portrayed wrote, “I don’t stories to identify with the region through larger undertaking, Di Santis quickly real- want to be an old man in a plastic house next the eyes of its people. ized that if the voices from throughout Ap- to a golf course under a black sky. I want The artist, Francesco Di Santis, had palachia were to be heard, he would have to to sit by a clear stream in the Blue Ridge, recently completed a portrait project of cover thousands of square miles. After two talking to salamanders as big as my arm, Hurricane Katrina victims. Days after the years, he had taken portraits of thousands watching the world become wiser.” hurricane devastated the Louisiana and Mis- of people throughout seven states. After much anticipation, the public sissippi Gulf Coast, di Santis came to the area The artists’ spirits were bolstered by will be able to view Voices for Appalachia, and stayed for 15 months drawing portraits an incredible desire to participate. Dozens A Portrait-Story Project, Written and Nar- of victims, only asking for their stories. of families invited the artists into their rated by Hundreds. The art series will be Many in the environmental movement households and spread the word to family displayed March 2 to 27 at the Unitarian for Appalachia felt the project could show and friends. Universalist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., the public the impacts “King Coal” has had Di Santis, drew simple but strong por- and then April 2 to 27 at Rosetta’s Kitchen on the lives of people who feel a connection traits with the request that people would in Asheville, N.C. to the region. write their own personal narrative. The project began as a five-month quest To request the art series in your commu- “The media infrastructure of The UnitedMountainDefense.org. into the coalfields where sympathizers nity visit Portrait-Story Project is the participants’ had organized to fight the consequences of Di Santis. To view the entire art series, click to handwriting on the same physical page as VoicesForAppalachia.org mountaintop removal coal mining. Subjects wrote about folk culture, fam- . an original portrait of themselves,” said As the project developed into a much ily, stories of the old United Mine Workers,

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 12 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Civil Standoff Kennedy and Blankenship Debate Future of Coal By Bill Kovarik lic events in recent years. sity being lost through Moun- “It’s sadly rare in our society taintop Removal Mining: A polite but pointed debate showed to have a serious conversation Kennedy: “They are the most a wide gulf between environmental and between people with opposing biologically abundant temperate coal industry positions on Appalachia’s opinions on a sensitive issue,” forests on the planet. A typical forest, environmental woes. said debate moderator Edwin all over the world, has three dominant The debate was sponsored by the Welch, president of the Univer- species of trees. Appalachia has 80.” University of Charleston in Charleston, sity of Charleston. In his summary statement, W.Va., Jan. 21, 2010. Kennedy and Blankenship Kennedy said: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of sharply disputed topics such as: Kennedy: “Don says we have the Waterkeeper Alliance, challenged coal to choose between environmental baron Don Blankenship to be honest about Economic impacts and benefits of coal mining for protection on the one hand and the coal industry’s environmental record, Appalachia: economic prosperity on the other. I especially mountaintop removal mining. Kennedy: “You look at the way say that’s a false choice…Good envi- “This is the worst environmental Photo by Jamie Goodman people are living in this state. The ronmental policy is identical to good economic crime that has ever happened in our his- Hendryx study shows that the closer Blankenship: “Unfortunately the laws policy. We want to measure our economy… tory,” Kennedy said, advocating an end you live to a coal mine, the sicker you are.” are so difficult and the lawsuits so common based upon on how it produces jobs, and the to mountaintop removal and a gradual Blankenship: “This industry is what and the cost of doing business is so high...To dignity of our jobs, over the generations, over shift to renewable energy sources. “We all made this country great. If we forget that we’re force the coal business out of West Virginia the long term, and how it preserves the value have a moral obligation to stop this from going to have to learn to speak Chinese.” or surface mining would be a huge mistake of the assets of our community. If on the other happening.” Enforcement of environmental laws: for household budgets, for industry and for hand we want to do what Don himself and his Blankenship, chairman of Massey Kennedy: “In a true free market system, homeland security.” company have been urging us to do, which is Energy Company, said the issue was one the price of a product would reflect all of its Massey Energy Company’s to treat the planet as if it were a business in of industry competitiveness in the face of costs. A producer like Mr. Blankenship would environmental record: liquidation, convert all of our natural resources “environmental extremism.” have to pay all of the costs of his product before Kennedy: “Just this last year, Massey to cash as quickly as possible, have a few years Although the debate developed little he gets it to market, instead of forcing you and had 12,900 (water quality) violations—A of pollution based prosperity, we can generate common ground, its civil tone contrasted I and my children to pay through bad health greater concentration than even before the $20 an instantaneous cash flow and the illusion of with the rancor of hearings and other pub- by externalizing those costs.” million fine (of 2008).“ a prosperous economy, but our children are go- Blankenship: “There is no country that ing to pay for our joy ride, and they are going mines coal more safely or more environmentally to pay for it with denuded landscapes and poor consciously than this country, and no company health and huge cleanup costs that are going to that does better at that than Massey.” amplify over time. The cost and benefits of Environmental injury, particularly of the renewable energy: kind that is happening today in West Virginia, Kennedy: “The mining industry makes is deficit spending. It’s a way of loading the costs a few people rich by making everyone else of our generation’s prosperity onto the backs of poor, whereas the wind industry distributes our children....An investment in our environ- wealth and the benefits of that industry more ment is (not) a diminishment of our nation’s evenly.” wealth. It’s an investment in infrastructure, Blankenship: “Solar energy, it works like telecommunications or highways. well in the daytime, but it gets cold at night. What I would say to the coal industry is Solar…and windmill parts will be made go underground, employ lots of people, and do overseas...” this safely as West Virginia makes a transition Kennedy also described the biodiver- to a new energy future.”

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 13

During the Week in Washington, citizens learn about the issue of mountaintop removal coal mining and also how to lobby members of Congress. The group then spends three days on Capitol Hill in active lobbying for the Clean Water Protection Act and the Appalachia Restoration Act. Photo by Mary Kroeck

Appalachian Advocates Prepare for Fifth Annual Week in Washington By Megan Naylor change your life in many wonderful ways,” said Stephanie Pistello, National Field Co- With the start of the New Year comes a ordinator for Appalachian Voices. “In addi- new opportunity for citizens to assemble in tion to learning more about the legislative the nation’s capital to meet with Congres- process firsthand, you make special friend- sional leaders about legislation barring ships with like-minded people from across mountaintop removal. the country, including the very people who The Fifth Annual Week in Washington, live in the mountains we are saving.” hosted by The Alliance for Appalachia, runs This year offers the opportunity to lob- from March 6 to 10 in Washington D.C., West Virginia lobbyists gather in front of the Capitol during the End Mountaintop Removal Week by for the passage of the Clean Water Pro- and brings together citizens from the Ap- in Washington. Photo by Dana Kuhline tection Act (H.R. 1310) in the House as well palachian coalfields and across the nation to as the Appalachian Restoration Act (S.696) lobby members of congress about the Clean in the Senate. If passed, these bills would Water Protection Act and the Appalachia play a critical role in stopping the effects of Restoration Act. mountaintop removal coal mining. Participants engage in an action-packed In 2009, over 150 people from 23 dif- week full of new friends, training and lobby ferent states attended Week in Washington visits. Training day covers updates on poli- and engaged in and hundreds of meetings cies affecting mountaintop removal, tips for with Congressional offices. effective lobbying, and presentations by af- Due to congressional meetings held fected citizens and non-profit organizations during Week in Washington 2009, the Clean involved in the push for legislation against Water Protection Act now has 164 cospon- mountaintop removal. sors in the U.S. House of Representatives The following three days of the event are and the Appalachian Restoration Act has dedicated lobby days where participants are 10 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. given the opportunity to exercise their civic To follow this year’s Week in Wash- rights and speak with members of Congress ington or to find out how you can become and their staff about ending mountaintop involved in the mountaintop removal cam- removal. paign, visit iLoveMountains.org. “Attending Week in Washington can

Looking for a way to teach kids about mountaintop removal?

INTRODUCING

Providing educational resources for students of all ages www.ilovemountains.org/teachers/

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 14 Th e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Th e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 15 Lawsuits Stalled Over TVA Immunity Claims

Revisiting TVA’s Coal Ash Disaster By Julie Johnson toxic materials the TVA has dumped in our Tennessee’s community.” Lawsuits against the Tennessee Valley In December, nearly one year after the Authority over the Kingston coal ash disaster spill, the Environmental Integrity Project remain stalled following TVA’s claim that (EIP) sent a letter to the White House, asking citizens cannot sue the agency. that President Obama and the Department Valdez Over 560 plaintiffs are represented in of Justice to take measures to hold TVA ac- 57 lawsuits against TVA over the December Over a year after the Dec. 22, 2008 failure of TVA’s countable. 2008 failure of a coal ash impoundment dam. “TVA raises issues of federal ‘sovereign impoundment dam released 5.4 million cubic In April 2009, TVA asked a federal judge to immunity’ to avoid penalties in environ- dismiss all the cases, citing a Department of mental enforcement cases filed by citizens yards of coal sludge, ash still covers the land and Justice ruling that protects federal agencies in federal court, yet TVA does not receive from civil suits by citizens. A decision has federal funds or tax dollars drawn from the clouds the river. In spite of TVA officials’ assurance yet to be made on this request. U.S. Treasury,” said EIP in their report. “Our primary concern is the health im- The letter, as well as an in-depth report that the cleanup would last three months and the pact of this massive release of toxic materials completed by EIP, states EIP also calls for into our community,” said Levi Giltnane, a waste was safe, studies and reports of health much more rigorous environmental oversight Kingston resident who owns both property of the utility, and the elimination of federal near the plant and a small real estate busi- concerns suggest otherwise and a final clean up protections that allow TVA to keep the grid ness. in a non-competitive lock down. date is years away... “We have a two-year-old daughter, According to EIP’s letter, “removing these Skylar. For her and for the other children in special protections would make TVA more this area, we want the TVA to give us honest competitive, result in a more energy-efficient answers about what is in this toxic ash and grid, and create incentives for TVA to stay Families Struggle in the Aftermath we want the TVA to fund medical testing ahead of changing environmental and energy for our family and other families who have regulations.” By Maureen Halsema The Topmiller’s home is just across been exposed to the massive amounts of the river from the TVA’s Kingston Fos- Gary and Pam Topmiller are the last sil Plant, site of the coal ash disaster remaining homeowners living in a ghost Mountains of coal ash still tower over Swan Pond Road near “All of this dust and blasting from the quarry, of Dec. 22, 2008. Early that morning, a town on the Emory River. the Kingston Fossil Plant, the site of the 2008 coal ash disaster. which we did not have before, not to men- tsunami of 5.4 million cubic yards of As they drive to what they once consid- Photo by Steve Scarborough. Gary Topmiller, pictured at the tion, all of the traffic. We’ve got fly ash com- coal ash hit the Emory River and the ered their dream home, they pass rows of bottom left, walks to the dock of his former dream home where ing from the spill site and dust coming from once-thriving neighborhood. houses bearing white notices on the doors the waters have been contaminated by toxic pollutants from the the quarry. Don’t tell me I’m not affected.” In terms of toxins released, it of recent acquisitions by the Tennessee coal ash spill. Photo by Maureen Halsema. Scarborough echoed Blanchard’s was the largest single environmental Valley Authority. frustration. disaster in recorded history. “Just about everybody around here that “My property was on the market when left has told us the same thing,” Pam Topmiller Fly Ash Flu are affected, those pieces of equipment are this disaster occurred,” Scarborough said. said. “They left because of the health scare.” Over the last year, the Top- Blanchard said, “but also at her age she’s According to Pam Bonnee, director of presenting this to folks, I couldn’t do it in just wanted fair market value for it,” Daugh- touching them or around them or causing “Since then we have had one offer of pen- millers said they have experienced very much still in the process of neuro- communications at ORAU, 314 people have good conscience.” erty said. “I have yet to get that offer.” them so much disturbance that they cannot nies on the dollar of the appraised value. It mounting health problems includ- logical development and you don’t want signed up for toxicology screenings, testing “They sign a waiver about not coming “TVA is trying to say the housing mar- sleep or do their work. That is the sort of is unsellable because of TVA, but they tell ing nosebleeds, chronic headaches, anything that is going to have a negative for aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, back against TVA once they get paid for the ket was down already, you can’t try to re- thing that they look at.” me I’m not affected.” and respiratory complications. impact on that.” chromium, cobalt, copper, nickel, selenium, property,” Martocci said. coup your loss at our expense,” Blanchard, Blanchard and Scarborough both said “They tell me that I’m outside the af- “We got what we call the fly According to the Tennessee Department thallium, and vanadium. The Topmillers also want to sell their who purchased her house prior to the spill TVA told them that their properties were fected area,” Scarborough continued. “How ash flu,” Gary Topmiller said. “We of Health, “If dust suppression measures A Pricey Proposition house to TVA, but they don’t like the strings and would like to take her family away outside the affected area of the spill and can you be outside the affected area when had to go to Nashville to a doctor should fail and particulate matter is present attached to TVA’s offer either. from the disaster site, said. “Excuse me, they would not be compensated. the river is closed and they are dredging in Steve Scarborough, chairman of the down there and he said for us to in concentrations greater than National Am- “If you sign that paper, TVA is no longer there is a big difference between having “You don’t tell somebody if they are front of it? We’ve also been told that mort- Conservation Commission, a section of the get out of here, but we don’t have bient Air Quality Standards due to the coal liable for anything in the future, like if you a decline in value and having a crash in affected, you ask them,” said Blanchard. gage lenders won’t take mortgages from Tennessee Department of Environment and any place to go.” ash becoming airborne for periods longer come up with cancer, they are not liable,” said value, which is what has happened to us. “And yes, we are definitely affected.” this area on the secondary market as well. Conservation, has property out on Swan Not far away on Quarry than one day, the department concludes that Pam Topmiller. “That is what you sign off on Who would buy our property? I don’t Blanchard lives by the quarry, where at This is an impossible situation for us.” Harbor. Real estate was Scarborough’s invest- Road, Rev. Peggy Blanchard is particulate matter from airborne coal ash and that is what we would not sign.” know, would you buy property, even after the height of the cleanup she reports having The cleanup effort still has a long way ment plan for his family, and now he cannot raising her great-granddaughter, could harm people’s health, especially for The Topmillers’ neighbor, Glenn all these years, where Love Canal was?” up to 800 gravel truck trips passing by her to go. withdraw the funds from his investments. Julianna, who is five years old. those persons with pre-existing respiratory Daugherty, has a 1.25 acre lakefront lot. home each day. Federal officials have presented three “When you sell your property to TVA, Not Affected She worries about the potential or heart conditions.” Since the spill, Daugherty said he has Rogers Group Inc., increased the vol- cleanup plans to the public for review in a they give you a price on the property and How does TVA determine if residents health impacts related to fly ash. “If there is a medical concern, they are wel- experienced nosebleeds, watery eyes, and ume of extraction from the Roane County document called “Engineering Evaluation/ they also have you sign a medical waiver,” are affected by the coal ash spill? “We are concerned in terms come to go to the claims office and file a claim,” chronic sinus issues. Quarry near Blanchard’s home in order to Cost Analysis.” Scarborough said. “You are required to sign “It is people who could be bothered of exposure to ourselves but said Barbara Martocci, a TVA spokesperson. Daugherty said that TVA told him they obtain materials TVA needed to build the “We don’t know a final date,” Martocci the waiver saying that you cannot sue them by the noise, by the equipment, by the we’re mostly concerned about Oak Ridge Associated University were going to make him another offer after weirs and dike in the river to keep the sedi- said. “We’re looking at around 2013, but it for any medical effects. It’s an onerous spill itself, the water surge, the ash, and Julianna because not only is this a (ORAU) is handling the medical claims he declined their $140,000 offer for his lot. “I ments contained in the disaster site. may be longer.” piece of paper to have to sign. If it were me the truck traffic,” said Martocci. “If they cumulative thing over a lifetime,” that residents file with TVA. “So what do we get,” Blanchard said. Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 16 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e TVA’s Environmental Science Reporting Still Sparks Controversy

Arsenic Known carcinogen of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidneys By Bill Kovarik Barium High blood pressure, gastrointestinal disturbance

When the Tennessee Valley Authority released its Cadmium Suspected carcinogen; also high blood pressure, liver, lung disease “Toxics Release Inventory” (TRI) report in December 2009, Chromium Known carcinogen, kidney and liver disease environmental organizations such as the Environmental Integrity Project expressed concern at the amount of toxins Copper Toxin that can cause cirrhosis of liver released into the river. Lead Neurotoxin. May cause abdominal pain and spasms, nausea, vomit- According to TVA spokesman John Moulton, “toxic ing, headache. Acute poisoning can lead to muscle weakness, insomnia, dizziness, shock, coma and death in extreme cases. metals, in general, remain bound to the ash and do not Mercury Chronic exposure may cause permanent central nervous system become soluble in moving water such as river currents.” damage, fatigue, weight loss, tremors, personality changes. However, a toxicologist’s recalculation of the “mass bal- Nickel Carcinogen with prolonged exposure. Dust may cause u-like symp- ance” of heavy metals shows serious flaws in TVA’s methods toms with metallic taste, fever, chills, cough, weakness, chest pain, and puzzling omissions of the most soluble toxins. Pounds of toxics released in the Dec. 2008 ash spill at muscle pain and increased white blood cell count. At the request of The Appalachian Voice, associate pro- Kingston, TN. The chart shows shows the difference between Selenium Extremely poisonous, may cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fessor Shea Tuberty of Appalachian State University re- the TVA toxic release inventory report of Dec. 2009 and the coughing and chest pains, diculty in breathing calculated the total amount of toxic materials in eight billion results calculated by Dr. Shea Tuberty using TVA’s own Thallium Poisonous, may cause burns to skin, eyes, respiratory tract, GI tract; deep tissue burns and ulceration; blindness. pounds of fly ash spilled into the river. Tuberty calculated values. (Graphic by Appalachian Voice) only the ash spilled into the river, using TVA’s own values been called into question. “Overall, these test results indicate much more severe for the parts per million of heavy metals in the ash. He also A week after the spill, TVA was reporting that water impacts to water, sediment and fish than has been previously accounted for the difference between normal background samples showed heavy metals well below legal limits. reported by TVA, which tells us they haven’t been sampling levels of heavy metals in comparable amounts of soil. However, samples taken from the Emory River by the in the right places,” said Upper Watauga Riverkeeper Donna Tuberty deduced that over 5.4 million pounds of heavy Waterkeeper Alliance and analyzed by Appalachian State Lisenby. metals of various kinds have been released directly into the University showed a very different picture. The zero value for selenium in the recent TRI report is, un- water, as opposed to the 1.3 million pounds reported as water For example, arsenic was 300 times the allowable der these circumstances, highly questionable, Tuberty said. releases by TVA in its TRI report. amounts in drinking water, and all of the water samples Tuberty also noted that the TRI report showed that zero For instance, Tuberty calculated that the ash spill re- were found to contain elevated levels of arsenic, barium, pounds of cadmium were released in the toxic ash spill. leased over 337,000 pounds of arsenic into the river. TVA cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel and thallium. Yet scientists are using cadmium as a “tracer” to show the reported only 143,000 pounds. In May 2009, independent scientists found elevated extent of the toxic plume from the Kingston spill. This is not the first time that TVA’s reported data has levels of selenium in fish downstream. Citizens Group Critical of TVA Information and Sampling Procedures

By Maureen Halsema In addition, RCAG has criti- lack of effective communication from TVA on a number of sub- Almost a year after the coal ash disas- cally examined TVA’s methodol- jects,” Scarborough said. “As a ter at the TVA plant in Kingston, a citizens ogy for sampling data. result, TVA has made a renewed advisory group says they are unhappy with “Samples have not been tak- effort to get information to the TVA’s information and water sampling en at high flows on the Emory public. Even though this is a procedures. River when the greatest con- work in progress and far from “This is a horrible economic and environ- taminant loads would be pres- perfect, progress has certainly mental situation that we are in,” said Steve ent,” Scarborough said. “Water been made. “ Scarborough, Roane County Community quality data is incomplete and Advisory Group (RCAG) spokesman and a does not give an accurate picture RCAG has presented and veteran of conservation advisory groups. of heavy metal contaminant addressed multiple problems discharges, and we think under- “We are concerned about how they will that have impacted the com- states them.” clean it up, where the ash goes and how it munity since the spill, such as RCAG serves several pur- Steve Scarborough, a member of RCAG, has concerns about insufficient traffic flow, relations with law goes through Roane County,” he said. water sampling methods by TVA. Photo by Maureen Halsema. Among other issues, the RCAG thinks poses for both Roane County enforcement in the Swan Pond community members and for community, plans for rerouting that even basic information from TVA is a viduals that volunteer to represent the the agencies involved to help deal with the train to ease traffic delays, and exposing problem. interests of Roane County and serve as a the cleanup of the “hazardous substances” inconsistencies in sampling methodology. “We are seriously concerned, and have medium through which the community’s that are found in coal ash. “The RCAG is also concerned about called into question, the practice of allow- concerns and needs can be communicated Community advisory groups are part of TVA as lead agency,” Scarborough said, ing TVA to review Tennessee Department to and addressed by the EPA, TDEC, and EPA “Superfund” (CERCLA ) process, and “and would prefer that TVA be removed as of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), TVA. RCAG is also a channel through need to be involved in the decision-making lead agency due to failures such as water EPA, and Tennessee Department of Health which these agencies can effectively com- process for waste-cleanup areas. sampling irregularities and questions on documents prior to their release to the public municate information to the community. RCAG’s group is comprised of indi- air quality measurements as well.” for comment,” Scarborough said. “We expressed our concerns with the

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 17 TVA’s Environmental Science Reporting Still Sparks Controversy Backlash: Counties in Alabama, Tennessee Fight Ash Relocation

By Julie Johnson Disposing of the coal ash spilled by TVA in December 2008 may turn out to be as much of an environmental problem as the original disaster. According to the Waterkeeper Alli- ance, toxic surface water with levels of arsenic eight times higher than drink- ing water standards has been found at the coal ash disposal site just outside of Uniontown, Ala. TVA began exporting coal ash from the Harriman, Tenn., disaster site to Uniontown in July 2009, dumping it into the Arrowhead Landfill operated by Phill- Con Services of Perry County, Ala. The company won a $95 million contract to dispose of the coal ash at their six-month- old landfill equipped with polyethylene liners and pump systems, which met EPA’s standards for contract bids. When the first train cars full of TVA’s coal ash arrived at Arrowhead landfill, the wet ash was dumped in lined pits. Train cars loaded with coal ash, above, wait to be hauled to Perry County, Ala. for disposal. Liquid that seeped out of the pile—known In Cumberland County, Tenn., at right, signs posted on telephone poles reflect the sentiments as leachate—was collected and trucked of many residents concerned about the ash being deposited in their community. to the nearby Marion Waste Water Treat- ment Plant for sewage treatment. The county is in today’s America,” said Button Commissioner Turner called processed liquid was then discharged into in an article for Counterpunch magazine. the lawsuits “frivolous and ha- Rice Creek. Button also said that the 90 temporary jobs rassing,” and is considering coun- Perry County, in which almost 35 that would be created would hardly make tersuing for “interfering with a Citizens Group Critical of TVA Information and Sampling Procedures percent of the population lives below the a difference in a county of over 10,000. legitimate business operation.” poverty line, receives a $1.05 “tipping fee” County Residents Take Also in February, Arrowhead per every ton of coal ash shipped. The Legal Action Landfill’s actual owners, Perry by the EPA and independent sources on county is expected to receive over $3 mil- County Associates, filed for bankruptcy coal ash. The only county commissioner In January, the Marion water treat- lion from the coal ash shipments. in a Mobile, Ala., court, claiming that who did not sign off on the project was ment facility stopped taking Arrowhead’s “Most of the jobs around here are low- the landfill operator, Phill-Con and their Clarence Black, representative for District leachate after attorney David Ludder filed end, low-paying labor jobs,” said County partner Phillips & Jordan were withhold- 5 where the landfill is located. notice of intent to sue on behalf of county Commissioner Albert Turner, defending ing removal contract funds paid to them For now, boxcars will continue to residents. Ludder’s team found levels of the ash disposal. “Taking the coal ash by TVA. carry their loads of coal ash from Kingston arsenic exceeding drinking water stan- creates 90 higher-end jobs in construction Complicating the morass of legal is- to Uniontown while the environmental dards in a sample taken downstream from and disposal.” sues is the uncertain status of federal coal impacts of the original disaster continue the Rice Creek dump site. Dr. Gregory Button, director of the ash waste disposal regulations. to spill over into legal, social and political In February, 155 residents near Arrow- University of Tennessee’s Center for Di- Under current EPA standards, coal ash concerns. head Landfill filed a notice of intent to sue sasters, Displacement and Human Rights, is designated a non-hazardous solid waste. for violations of the Clean Air Act. Cumberland County, Tenn., called the ash relocation a clear case of An EPA review of coal ash regulations is According to Ludder, people living in Opposes Coal Ash Dump on environmental injustice and quoted an under way and is not expected out until homes near the landfill began to experience executive order by President Clinton: “Fair late spring. Old Strip Mine Site headaches, nausea and vomiting, noting treatment means that no group of people While coal ash is known to contain Signs posted on telephone poles on that the odors from the dump were pre- should bear a disproportionate risk share carcinogens and heavy metals, including Cumberland County’s Smith Mountain venting them from leaving their homes. of negative environmental consequences arsenic, chromium, lead and mercury, coal Road read “Go Away TVA!” John Wathen, Waterkeeper for the resulting from industrial, governmental, ash itself is currently regulated as a non- Smith Mountain Road leads to Turner area, has filed a formal complaint with or commercial operations or policies.” hazardous material and can be disposed Coal Mine, a surface mining site that is no the EPA, stating: “People throughout “Even if you accept the county com- of in landfills permitted to handle non- longer actively operating. In June 2009, Cum- the community report nightly pumping missioners’ rationale, it clearly underscores hazardous solid waste. berland County Commissioners voted 11 to 5 of stinking gray/tannish waste from the the asymmetrical economic power rela- Turner said he and other county com- to allow the mine to be used as a landfill for landfill...I have personally seen it and tions of this nation and demonstrates just missioners considered the health effects of the coal ash from the Kingston spill site. documented the pumps, the gray sludge how desperate a poor, southern minority residents near the landfill and read studies Continued on page 22 leaving the site...”

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 18 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

Across Appalachia Environmental News From Around The Region April 22: Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary

By Jillian Varkas In 1969, Nelson found the inspiration “Earth Day worked because of the spon- he needed—Anti-Vietnam War dem- This year marks the 40th anniversary taneous response at the grassroots level,” onstrations were being held at colleges of Earth Day. The first Earth Day was cel- Nelson said. That was the remarkable thing throughout the United States. ebrated on April 22, 1970, but the concept about Earth Day. It organized itself.” In September 1969, Nelson invited started years before. 20 million people from thousands of everyone to participate in a nationwide After years of concern over the lack of schools and communities participated. grassroots demonstration on behalf of the political interest in environmental issues Finally, all the separate groups were environment. in the United States, Sen. Gaylord Nelson able to come together to support one “The response was electric,” said cause, the earth, and the politicians re- of Wisconsin knew something had to be said, “[Senator Nelson] inspired us to Nelson, “It took off like gangbusters. sponded. done. Nelson proposed a “conservation remember that the stewardship of our Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries The political awareness Earth Day cre- tour” to President Kennedy to promote natural resources is the stewardship of the poured in from all across the country. The ated led to the establishment of the United conservation awareness and attempt to American Dream.” American people finally had a forum to ex- States Environmental Protection Agency bring attention to the environment, mak- Earth Day continues to be a huge suc- press its concern about what was happen- as well as the Clean Air Act Extension in ing it an issue of the national political cess, and is now celebrated worldwide. This ing to the land, rivers, lakes, and air—and 1970, the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the agenda. year, volunteer events, projects, and celebra- they did so with spectacular exuberance.” Endangered Species Act in 1973. In September 1963, Kennedy went on tions will be held throughout the United The national coordinator, Denis Hayes, In 1995, Nelson was awarded the a five-day, eleven-state conservation tour. States at parks, schools, and homes. worked with college students to organize Presidential Medal of Freedom by Presi- The tour failed to make the impact Sen. For more information about Earth Day rallies throughout the U.S. The amount dent Bill Clinton. Nelson was hoping for, but he continued events near you, visit www.earthday.net. to speak across the country. of interest in organizing the grassroots “As the father of Earth Day,” Clinton The public was concerned, but the events throughout the country eventually politicians did not make the environment became more than Sen. Nelson’s senate a priority. office could handle. Ramp Festivals Celebrate First Spring Sprouts Story by W.R. Johnson goodies such as mo- One of the first signs of spring in the rel mushrooms and Appalachian Mountains is the wee green fiddlehead ferns. sprout of the ramp. This wild, edible, leek- The following like vegetable, Allium tricoccum, starts un- list is just a small sam- furling its leaves from early April to May. pling of the dozens of ramp festivals that will be Many mountain communities celebrate held this spring. To find out this odorous plant and the coming season more about the ramp and where you in festival fashion. Historically, the wild can celebrate its spring green goodness, ramp was a prized harvest. It provided visit appvoices.org/ramp. the first nutritious and fresh greens The Refuge Flag Pond 25th Annual Ramp Festival after a long winter of eating from Unicoi County, Tenn.- May 8 the root cellar, and many tradi- 72nd Annual Ramp Feed tions arose around the annual Richwood, W. Va.- April 17 spring gathering. Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival Traditionally ramps are Whitetop, Va.- May 16 fried, pickled or sautéed, and The Ramp Festival Concert Stecoah, N.C.- April 24 eaten with other foraged spring

EPA asks for Citizen Reports on Gas Extraction Problems The EPA announced the launching of a citizen-run watchdog program, Eyes on Drill- ing, calling for citizens to keep a critical eye on impacts related to natural gas extraction from Appalachia’s Marcellus Shale, one of the most expansive reserves of natural gas. The EPA-run program asks residents to report any activities that may be a threat to water quality or are perceived as improper waste disposal from natural gas production activities. Visit our website at: To make a report, call toll-free (877) 919-4372, and include information such as www.therefugefoscoenc.com location, time, date, materials involved, equipment and vehicles observed, and any perceived environmental impacts. Or call 1-800-667-0805 and We’ll Arrange the Fly!! To find out more visit epa.gov/region03/marcellus_shale/tipline.html.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 19

Across Appalachia Environmental News From Around The Region

life. In 2007, a significant fish kill claimed Pigeon River’s Pollution Permit Rejected 8,500 fish, because of high-temperature By Maureen Halsema Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Hartwell Carson, the French Broad River- discharges from Blue Ridge Paper Prod- uct’s Canton Mill. The U.S. Environmental Protection NC0000272, is a requirement of the Clean keeper. The Pigeon River flows from the According to the Western North Caro- Agency rejected the recent draft permit for Water Act and addresses color, temperature, Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina lina Alliance, a grassroots environmental Blue Ridge Paper Products, Inc., in Canton, wastes that consume oxygen, and dioxins, across the border to Tennessee where it is a organization, “The federal Clean Water N.C., to continue to discharge pollutants as well as metals and other pollutants. watershed for the French Broad River. Act only allows dischargers to release into the Pigeon River, often referred to as This draft was rejected on several There are two particular areas of con- wastewater up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit “The Dirty Bird” by paddlers. parameters including color requirements, cern regarding the permit’s rejected draft. warmer than the upstream temperature. “We were in disagreement with almost temperature allowances, and dioxins, First, it called for dropping the “color However, the current temperature ‘vari- every part of this permit,” said Hope Tay- among others. variance” of Blue Ridge Paper Products’ ance’ in Blue Ridge Paper’s permit allows lor, executive director of Clean Water for The EPA has given the North Carolina original permit, meaning that the North the Mill a monthly average difference North Carolina, “from monitoring limits Division of Water Quality 90 days to resub- Carolina Division of Water Quality would of up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit between and frequencies for Biological oxygen de- mit the permit with improvements. not require Blue Ridge Paper Products to upstream and downstream temperature, mand to metals, temperature and color of “These improvements do not go continue cleaning up the Pigeon River’s one of the highest temperature differences the discharge.” nearly far enough to clean up the river, but color that is impacted by the plant’s dis- are a good step in the right direction,” said charges. allowed in North Carolina.” The National Pollution Discharge “Another major concern with this “We strongly contend that the Mill is permit is the temperature variance,” said not meeting acceptable color, odor, foam or fish palatability narrative standards,” Duke Energy Rate to statewide public hearings last October Carson. said Taylor, “and even EPA’s required Increase Approved to express concerns that the rate increase The rejected draft did not place any daily limit on the temperature of the dis- modifications just won’t restore the river Following a statewide controversy would cause a crippling financial burden charges, which poses a threat to aquatic to health.” over a proposed 12.6 percent rate increase for their homes, small businesses and for Duke Energy customers in North Caro- schools. lina, the NC state Utilities finally approved EPA Supports Environmental a two-step, 8% increase for the utility. Education in West Virginia The compromise, which includes a 3.8 The EPA recently awarded West Vir- percent increase in 2010 followed by a 3.2 ginia counties two grants funding envi- percent increase in 2011 and a 1 percent ronmental educational. increase in 2012, will generate $315 million The Clean Creeks Program, a water revenue for Duke Energy. quality monitoring project, received According to the Utility Commis- $21,900 to fund their tracking program sion ruling, the initial 2010 rate increase and to support education about acid mine could not be used drainage and water pollut- to recoup costs ants in Dellslow, W.Va. incurred from the In Wheeling, W.Va., the ongoing updat- EPA awarded $11,250 to Ohio ing of the aging County School in order to Cliffside Steam Station in Rutherford fund the Project Green and Growing Well County, N.C. Program, an environmental education The original announcement of the program promoting healthier, more sus- rate increase drove hundreds of citizens tainable communities.

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 20 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e te win r A collaborative piece by Maureen Halsema, Kristina Tarsan of Southern Appalachia Highlands Conservancy, and Hiking the Highlands Joseph Gatins of Georgia Forest Watch Neither Cold nor Snow nor Sleet (nor Ice and Driving Winds!) Can Keep These Hikers Down

he crunch beneath your boots, a Revolutionary War, crosses Roan Mountain. calming sense of solitude, a familiar Protected through the partnering landscapeT transformed. The world of efforts of the Southern Appalachian winter hiking is unlike any other trail Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), the Ap- season—new vistas open up, new chal- palachian Trail Conservancy and the U.S. lenges present, even new trails too difficult Forest Service, conserving Roan Mountain to traverse in other seasons are suddenly was the initial effort of SAHC and remains open for exploration. today the organization’s flagship project. Roan Mountain in the Roan Mountain is located where NC Cherokee National Forest 261 and TN 143 join on the NC/TN state line. Parking is located at Carvers Gap. Renowned for its exceptional biologi- To view more details about recreation on cal diversity and outstanding beauty, Roan Roan Mountain visit the Cherokee Na- Mountain is one of the most magnificent tional Forest website: http://www.fs.fed.us/ places to explore. r8/cherokee/recreation/roz_nroan.shtml Located on the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, Roan Mountain is Holcomb Creek & a wonderful place to visit and hike any Ammons Branch Falls time of the year. Cross country skiing and in the Chattahoochee snow-shoeing are a unique way to explore National Forest the trails during the winter as Roan gets This trek to an isolated section of more snow than almost any other location national forest lands in the Cattahoochee hemlocks falling prey to the current Hemlock Members of the Southern Appalachian Highlands in the area. It is one of the highest ranges National Forest, Rabon County, Ga., serves Woolly Adelgid infestation and the white pines Conservancy winter hike through Round in the Southern Appalachians, with peaks Bald, part of the endangered grassy balds as introduction to the rich bio-diversity of devastated by the Southern Pine Beetle. topping out at over 6,200 feet. ecosystem of Roan Mountain. Photo by Southern Southern Appalachia. The bonus for doing this hike in the Seventeen miles of the Appalachian Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, a nonprofit A three-mile loop hike to two bold dead of winter—assuming the mercury environmental organization. Trail cross Roan Mountain, which traverse en- waterfalls, Holcomb Creek and Ammons is at the right frigid temperature—is that dangered, high-elevation ecosystems includ- a creek. Follow trail to Y intersection (right Branch Falls—rated moderately strenuous both waterfalls and the rock faces will ing spruce-fir forests and open grassy balds leads to Ammons Branch Falls overlook, for the novice, easy for the experienced turn to ice, making for a spectacular and (the longest stretch in the world). The treeless left leads back a steady uphill to Hale hiker—has a total elevation gain of ap- unusual display of nature. mountaintops of the balds offer spectacular Ridge Road.) Look for bonus cascade on proximately 400 feet. Start your hike at the trailhead, located views and an alpine-like hiking experience. left. Return to vehicles at trailhead (left The trail bisects two crystal-clear trout at the intersection of Hale Ridge Road In addition to the A.T., the Overmountain along Hale Ridge Road.) streams and runs alongside stands of tall (FS 7) and Overflow Creek Road (FS 86). National Historic Victory Trail, which traces the A few safety tips before embarking to pines, hemlocks, rock faces and patches of Approach from Warwoman Road to the famous route of mountain patriots during the this remote, but beautiful area: do not count native plants and ferns, including galax, South, from North Carolina Route 246 to on cell phone coverage, the last gas stations pipsisewa, yellow root and saxifrage. the North. You will descend on marked are in Clayton or Dillard, Ga., or Scaly, N.C., Dense stands of rhododendron, moun- Forest Service trail (FS No. 52) to Holcomb and hiking boots are recommended. tain laurel and doghobble are replacing the Creek Falls will lead to a footbridge across

Ba c k p a c k i n g Sn o w -Co v e r e d Mo u n t a i n s

By Stephen Otis Preparation is key when taking on the added challenges of snow, ice, and subfreezing weather. If you want a winter challenge, hike the Appalachian Trail “We focused on extraction, with multiple exit strategies through the Great Smokies, a 69-mile ridge walk along one to deal with things like weather on the mountain, injuries, of the most scenic sections on the entire A.T. supply shortages, or road closures,” Baxter said. Hiking trails in the midst of winter offers a certain beauty An essential element of preparation is having the right and solitude, unique from every other season. supplies, such as food, crampons, and fuel. Ryan Baxter, manager of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports “A good plan…and DOWN, lots of down; booties, bags in Knoxville, Tenn, recently hiked the Great Smokey rid- and jackets,” Baxter added, “crucial to morale.” And with geline. this morale in place, “you are surrounded by limitless po- “We only saw game tracks in the snow. We were break- tential.” ing fresh trail the whole time,” Baxter said. A rare treat, For information about strategies and planning, visit: nps. especially in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the A hiker makes fresh tracks in the snow along the gov/grsm Appalachian Trail near Russell Field Shelter. most visited park in the United States.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 21 Hiking the Highlands Six New Favorites For Your Spring Reading List A collaborative piece written by Maureen tragic truths of the coal industry. provides for our continued St. Martin’s Press). Halsema, Julie Johnson, Sarah Vig, Jamie Biggers’ frighteningly real presence within it. A group of gallant Goodman, JW Randolph and Jeff Deal book holds nothing back, delv- Don’t skip the intro- rebels struggling ing deep into Shawnee culture, duction by “The Omni- selflessly against As snow piled up in the mountains the complexities of mine per- vore’s Dilemma” author ‘The Empire’s’ reck- this past winter, we realized one book re- mitting, and the alphabet soup Michael Pollan, a history less, single-minded view would simply not suffice. Here are a of federal agencies who have an and context to Berry’s es- pursuit of absolute few Appalachian reads that kept us warm impact on regulating moun- says and their influence on domination­—the de- through the long winter months. taintop removal. “Reck- Pollan. stroying-of-planets White Blazes oning” is an inspiration, a The essays are arranged in option squarely on Stephen Otis and Colin Roberts’ “A Road how-to guide, and a cultural three parts. Part one examines the the table. More or Less Traveled: Madcap Adventures rallying cry, but, above all farm itself, a dynamic and living This is where you’ll join Mike’s story Along the Appalachian Trail” ($17.99, Sun- else, it is a history lesson of entity that, if tended with respect, —a young teen yearning for an adventure- nygold Books), is written to the rhythm of the heart of a man and the will continuously provide. Part some higher purpose larger than the world the trail. heart of a nation. - JWR two discusses the farmer who, in in which he finds himself. A new chapter On the Front Berry’s vision, must be as dynamic The cast of individuals and environ- begins each time our as the land, and who is the media- mental non-profits joining Mike through authors—who are re- Lines tor between the farm and the table. Part this post-1960’s modern day vision quest ferred to only by their Antrim Caskey’s photo-documentary three exalts that product of farm and are equally as fascinating. trail names, Future- journal, “Dragline” (suggested $25 dona- farmer whose origins are so often taken So as not to ruin this ripping vicari- man and Applejack,— tion, Appalachia Watch) is an arresting for granted: food. - JJ ous yarn for those waiting to enjoy it, I’ll visualization of life on the front lines in cross a state line. Haunting Realism stop here, but Malaprops.com has it in The true stories the battle to stop mountaintop removal stock. -JD and adventures detailed in their novel are written coal mining in Appalachia. Chris Holbrook’s short story collec- in a tone reminiscent of a trail journal that one Caskey’s unerring compositions and tion, “Upheaval” ($17.95, University of would find in a shelter along the white-blazed sophisticated use of captions sidestep Kentucky Press), spares the sentimentalism wilderness route. mere storytelling and launch directly into sometimes found in literary depictions of The reader feels as though they have a penetrating representation of an entire Appalachia. taken each haphazard step along the over movement. No better collection of photo- With truth and gritty realism, Hol- 2,100-mile path from Khatadin, Maine to graphs will convey what it feels, looks, brook portrays an eastern Springer, Ga., with their two pals guiding smells, and sounds like to be on the Kentucky that’s upheaval them through each strange adventure front lines of West Virginia right now, is not limited to the coal and tangential conversation that crops up from the rushing clang of a coal train being stripped off the along the way. passing a mountain home at dawn to land. United by location, It is an ode to nature, overcoming and the shattering explosion of a moun- the eight stories in the appreciating challenges, spiritual quests, tain blown apart. The anguish, anger, collection simultaneously and friendship that inspires one to grab triumph and indisputable passion in give a sense of place and of Used, their pack and head for the woods. - MH each photograph are palpable. the deep crisis in identity “Isn’t it true, Mr. Roselle, that you it is undergoing. Rare & Out Recovering History came to West Virginia to protest moun- Holbrook’s writing is engrossing and of Print Books Jeff Biggers’ book, “Reckoning at Eagle taintop removal?” asks Massey Energy authentic and his use of the short story Creek,” ($26.95, Nation Books), covers the attorney Sam Brock in one layout spread. form is masterful. He gives strong charac- Specializing in centuries of personal “No! I came here to stop mountaintop ters and the impression of full narratives Books about Black Mountain College history lost by the strip- removal,” is the answer. - JG in only a few pages. mining of Bigger’s an- Though the prose is sparse, the col- cestral land in southern Smart Farming lection is awash with emotion, though for Illinois. Kentucky writer Wendell Berry many of the characters it lies just beneath The spotlight of the weaves together a picture of small-scale, the surface, masked by the need to carry world and new media ecologically sound agriculture in “Bring- on. Nostalgia, loneliness, resentment, and has slowly begun to ing it to the Table: On Farming and Food” fear permeate the book’s pages, revealed flicker upon certain ($14.95, Counter- and exposed just as the landscape is, with elements of an Appalachian tragedy. At point Press). violence and a sense of resignation. - SV A proponent of this unique point in the Appalachian clash, Safe “Arbor” Biggers’ potent relevance comes from his what he calls “using tangible production of the harsh, beautiful, nature as a measure,” Had George Lucas set Star Wars in a Berry’s essays each Galaxy fairly close to this one, in a time Powered dark instruments of history still resonating Jean & Carl Franklin by (PV) from this portrait of American dichotomy. emphasize recogniz- not so far ago, it might have read as well 103 Cherry Street Solar Cells Biggers’ words are not wistful implication ing the connection as Mike Roselle’s “Tree Spiker: From Earth Black Mountain, NC 28711 of folksy fantasy, rather, his scribes are between ourselves First! to Lowbagging: My Struggles in (828) 669-8149 [email protected] strategic and statistic-filled insights to the and the land which Radical Environmental Action” ($24.99,

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 22 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

Two Miles To Hell: A Miner’s Story I studied hard in school, but due to a two years later, I am deeply regretting my Continued from page 11 lack of funding and quality education, I decision with a new-found resentment for The dim morning sunlight greets me failed to go to college. Instead, I chose to the coal industry. of death and injury into the back of my as we exit the portal and find there is now move away and try my talents in differ- Growing up I had always known that mind, drumming up a conversation with snow on the ground. I put up my things ent places. All attempts met with failure, the coal industry is not a friend of our the man sitting beside me. and choose not to shower in the bathhouse returning me to the mountains I love. community. Strip mining that occurred I am a pinner man, a roof bolter opera- so I can make it home more quickly. I make The best alternative to a coal mining near our homes took away many of the tor. I am the one who, with a partner, goes my way home where my family is still job I could find was in a call center. I man- beautiful forests and abundant wildlife into unknown territory after every cut of sound asleep and I quietly enter the house aged to work my way up as far as I could that my brother and I enjoyed as children. coal is pulled out by the continuous miner. feeling tired and defeated. go, but as is common with many such I witnessed, firsthand, the greed and dis- It is my job to put in the roof supports I take a warm shower, washing off the technology jobs in the area, wages are just respect that the coal companies showed that keeps the top from falling in on us. I grime, blowing my nose several times to enough to live off of and have little hopes toward their employees during the 1989 strip down to my t-shirt because I know help clear out all of the blackened mucus of retirement. United Mine Worker’s Association strike I will soon be hot and sweating from the from the coal dust I breathed in. As I lay As time went on, it became evident against Pittston Coal Company. physical labors of the job, slinging around down to sleep, I pray that today my chil- that the income of such a job was insuf- All of these things I knew, but it hasn’t six-foot long roof bolts, handling hot drill dren are a little quieter so I can rest. ficient to achieve any long-term financial been until now that I have realized, clear steel, and dragging around the electrical Like many others of my generation I goals for my family. I pushed my many as crystal, just how ruthless and manipu- cable as we move the machine. tried to heed the warnings of my family negative mental paradigms of the coal lative the coal industry is. Like the naive After what seems like an eternity, it is elders who worked in the mines. Up until industry aside as I became enchanted by child that was told not to play with fire, time to leave. It is a cold trip out. The lows the past two years, my life had been spent their high wage offerings. I have been burned. Perhaps some day I are only in the teens and we have to exit doing everything I could to stay out of the I took a job as an underground coal may find a way leave the mines without by forcing our way through the intake air coal industry. miner at the age of twenty-eight, and now, putting my family at financial risk. that enters the mine.

Backlash: Counties in Alabama, Tennessee Fight Ash Relocation Continued from page 17 “I don’t care about fly ash. I don’t property’s wells and natural springs. “The age on a synthetic landfill liner like the one know if I can eat it, I don’t know if I can water runs from the top of this mountain proposed to be used at Turner Mine. To use the mine as a landfill, the Office put it on my garden, I don’t know if half down into the water system and the creeks. According to the EPA’s National Envi- of Surface Mining (OSM) must grant the my stuff is built of it,” said Dave Brundage, Between that mountain and my lodge I ronmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines, the current owners, Crossville Coal, Inc., a revi- owner of the Black Cat Lodge, a substance guarantee you there’s fly ash that is going owners must complete a comprehensive Envi- sion to their permit, reclassifying the site as and trauma recovery center located on the to affect this place.” ronmental Impact Study (EIS) before the per- safe for industrial solid waste disposal. road to Turner Mine. “What I’m interested Turner Coal Mine lies in the Sewanee mit change can be approved. As of this press At a Nov. 5, public hearing held by the in is my property value and the safety of Coal Seam. The shale surrounding the seam date, no such study has been undertaken. Office of Surface Mining, 450 citizens came these roads.” is particularly acidic. As a result, OSM has OSM has not made its final decision re- to submit comments on the decision. Only Brundage added that if the landfill designated much of the land in this seam garding the permit. Brundage and other Smith one person spoke in favor of turning the were opened, hundreds of haul trucks per “Lands Unsuitable for Mining.” Mountain Road residents have filed a lawsuit mine site into a landfill: Steve Wright, whose day would rumble past his lodge. No coal ash landfill has ever existed asking a judge to review the decision of the construction company is the front-runner for Brundage is also concerned about his in the Sewanee Seam, and no studies have Cumberland County Commissioners, and are the disposal contract. been done on the effects of acid mine drain- awaiting a decision on their appeal.

Save the date and join featured Environmental Injustice Seen in TVA Policies environmental non-profit Reported by Kyle Wolff that place low-income minority populations Appalachian Voices for this at special risk. His example of this was one of a kind, ecologically driven TVA’s environmental policies are putting low income Americans at risk, Uniontown, an area receiving waste from an large-scale music festival. according to the nation’s most prominent environmental disaster that happened 300 advocate for environmental justice. miles north of them, in a county with a popu- lation that is 88 percent African American. “We take your poison for a price,” said Dr. Robert Bullard on TVA’s decision to ship Environmental justice, as defined by Dr. coal ash from spill in Kingston, Tenn., to Bullard and other advocates, is the fair treat- waste disposal facilities near poverty-strick- ment and meaningful involvement of all peo- en neighborhoods in Uniontown, Ala. ple regardless of race, color, national origin, Dr. Bullard, director of the Environ- or income with respect to the development, mental Justice Resource Center at Clark implementation, and enforcement of environ- Atlanta University, delivered his message mental laws, regulations and policies. to a packed Lipinsky Auditorium at the Dr. Bullard explained that the TVA had University of North Carolina-Asheville to get rid of the coal ash mess, and they AUGUST 27-28, 2010 unjustly sent it south. He said Perry County BOONE, N.C. on Jan. 20, 2010. In his presentation, Dr. Bullard chal- was living with the effects of an “out of sight, lenged government and industrial policies out of mind” mentality by EPA and TVA. www.MusicOnTheMountaintop.com

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 23 Editorials An Orwellian approach to Appalachian history By removing federal protection from the Blair Mountain Battlefield site, state and federal officials have abrogated a sacred trust. Even worse, by remov- ing the protection in an underhanded manner, and ignoring evidence of skullduggery, they have set a scandalous, shocking and inexcusable precedent. No one questions the fact that the Blair Mountain Battlefield is a site of major national historic sig- nificance. No one has challenged the many leading historians and historical organizations that have pre- sented mountains of evidence about the 1921 armed confrontation between thousands of union miners and coal industry mine guards. Yet the process for protecting historic sites through the National Register of Historic Places requires the Backlash: Counties in Alabama, Tennessee Fight Ash Relocation agreement of landowners, and that process is subject to the worst kind of political abuse. Originally, a majority of 57 landowners agreed to the protection. After decades of very difficult work, the Letters to the editor site was listed in the Register in April 2009. However, only a few days later, the state official responsible for Appalachian Voice welcomes letters to the editor and comments on our website. coal, according to the American Lung counting letters of support from property owners Letters are subject to editing due to space limitations (letters can be read in full Association. suddenly “discovered” more letters. West Virginia on our website). The views expressed in these letters, and in personal editor People do not see the deaths in then began the unprecedented process of delisting responses, are the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the one dramatic event, and are not mo- the site. organization Appalachian Voices. Write to [email protected]. bilized to action as happened with the September 11 attacks. But they Advocates for historic protection uncovered ex- are real, as is the threat of climate traordinary flaws in the process. Two of those who Cap and Trade Could of billions of people this century, and change to our national security that supposedly objected happened to be deceased. In addi- Have An Impact On could accelerate out of control unless prompted the U.S. Pentagon to call tion, preservation advocates found another 13 property we cap and reduce emissions very global warming a greater risk than Health Care Costs owners who had not even been contacted. fast, the savings will likely be vastly terrorism in a 2004 report. To the Editor, greater with investments in reducing And that is just burning coal. The Although faced with new evidence, state officials While many Republicans are pre- greenhouse gas emissions. cap and trade legislation will also refused to reconsider. But they did offer a paltry conso- dicting an increase in energy costs Many larger cities in the United reduce the burning of oil, and cut lation prize by assuring preservationists that the site’s if we pass the cap and trade legisla- States have unsafe air pollution that down on the 700 billion dollars that “eligibility” for listing would still offer protection in tion, they are missing the big picture. is increasing with the temperatures we spend every year to buy petro- the future. A legal analysis has now found that these In fact, the legislation will save expo- that are a precursor to smog. By leum from other countries. Electric nentially more money than it will cost, switching from dirty coal to clean so- cars and trains charged with solar assurances were inaccurate, to say the least. as was seen with the 1990 Clean Air lar and wind energy, air pollution will and wind generated energy will be In the book 1984, George Orwell said: “He who Act Amendments. be reduced significantly. pollution-free. controls the past controls the future.” In that respect, Predicted to cost $5.7 billion, the Burning coal kills an estimated Having seen the impacts of climate the West Virginia state historic preservation office 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, 24,000 people each year in the Unit- change in the Arctic, and studied the ought to be renamed the Ministry of Truth. which used a cap and trade market ed States from particulate air pollution horrific predictions if we continue on system, turned out to cost just $1.6 according to the American Lung As- our current path, I implore citizens Unless the courts overturn the delisting, bulldoz- billion to cut more than 4 million tons sociation. This is equivalent to eight to get behind the cap and trade leg- ers will soon bury a precious piece of Appalachia’s of sulfur dioxide. But savings in health Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack deaths islation. The science proving climate history. care costs were found to be as much every year. But these people are sep- change is the most documented of Friends of Blair Mountain are encouraging people as $70 billion dollars, according to a arated throughout the country, dying any issue in history. We must take ac- to write to Carol Shull, keeper of the National Register 2003 EPA study. That is a savings of in hospital wards along with an esti- tion, before it is too late. 43 dollars for every dollar spent. mated 38,200 non-fatal heart attack Chad Kister of Historic Places. For more information visit their With many scientists warning that victims and 554,000 asthma sufferers website at FriendsOfBlairMountain.org. climate change threatens the lives whose illness was caused by burning

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 24 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e INSIDE APPALACHIAN VOICES Musicians for the Mountains: Artists Team Up With Appalachian Voices

Three Kentucky musicians are team- is an online “action and resource” center ing up to promote awareness of the dedicated to ending mountaintop removal impacts of mountaintop removal coal coal mining, and has garnered over 40,000 mining, with plans to donate their new supporters across the country. album’s proceeds to the cause. Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore Cellist Ben Sollee and guitarist Daniel chose to collaborate with Appalachian Martin Moore collaborated with record- Voices “to help with all the good work they ing artist/producer Yim Yames on “Dear are doing to raise awareness around the is- Companion,” an eleven-song album re- sue and to help amplify the voices of people leased in February by Sub Pop Records. living with mountaintop removal.” The artists’ proceeds from “Dear Com- “Dear Companion” explores the mu- panion” will benefit Appalachian Voices’ sicians’ ties to the places they love and national campaign to aims to draw even more end mountaintop re- attention to the problem moval coal mining. The of mountaintop removal practice has to date de- mining and its impact on stroyed more than 500 the people and heritage of mountains and buried central Appalachia. or polluted over 2,000 “[Ben and Daniel’s miles of streams. album] Dear Compan- Sollee and Moore recently began a Artist’s proceeds from the new album, “Dear Appalachian Voices ion is so dense musically, cross-country tour for the album, perform- Companion,” by recording artists Ben Sollee and is sharing the proceeds lyrically, thematically...it’s a ing their unique synthesis of folk, soul, Daniel Martin Moore will support Appalachian with the Alliance for Appa- powerful plea for ecological, jazz and bluegrass. A representative from Voices and the campaign to end mountaintop lachia, for whom they produce economic and social healing,” said Appalachian Voices will be available at removal coal mining. iLoveMountains.org. The website music review website Buzz Grinder. many of the shows to answer questions about mountaintop removal mining. volved. Others had no idea until this album Sandra Diaz, Appalachian Voices’ Direc- came out. Working with Ben and Daniel has tor of Development and Communications, been a great experience so far.” who has been touring along with the artists Learn more about the project, includ- says that the album is having its intended ing tour dates and a chance to listen to effect. “Many people I talked to knew about a track, at iLoveMountains.org/dear- the issue, but were not sure how to get in- companion. Grassroots Movements Gain Ground in Virginia By Mike McCoy taintop removal coal mining in Virginia. In February, the town of Dendron, Va., Dozens of affected citizens drove six and Surry and Sussex Counties approved hours from southwest Virginia to present zoning changes for Old Dominion Electric their case to the state senators. While the Cooperative’s (ODEC) proposed $6 billion bill was not voted on this year, the hearing coal plant. marked the first time that mountaintop Thanks to the hard work of concerned removal was presented to the state leg- citizens around the state, it took ODEC islature in a way that drew significant more than a year to get these votes, dur- attention to the issue. ing which time the grassroots opposition The Appalachian Voices’ office in Vir- to the proposed coal plant has grown ginia has also sponsored the Virginia Jobs stronger and broader. and Efficiency Act (S. 71), a bill to create mandatory energy efficiency standards As the controversy moves to the are- for utilities. nas of the state and federal governments, The Virginia Jobs and Efficiency Act Appalachian Voices will continue to work follows a proposed bill that did not pass with local citizens on the grassroots level. out of committee last year. This energy In addition, the Stream Saver Bill (S. efficiency proposal would have created 564), sponsored by Appalachian Voices, was up to 10,000 green jobs, reduced pollution given a special hearing before the Senate and decreased demand for mountaintop Agriculture and Natural Resources Com- removal coal. mittee. If passed, the bill will curtail moun- Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 25 APPALACHIAN VOICES INSIDE APPALACHIAN VOICES Protecting Our Rivers From Toxic Pollutants By Maureen Halsema adjacent to these sites are carcinogens, neurotoxins, or are deadly to fish and other Due to the investigative work of Ap- aquatic life.” palachian Voices’ Upper Watagua River- A 2007 EPA Risk Assessment con- keeper team, the North Carolina Division cluded that residents with wells who live of Water Quality has ordered Duke Energy in close proximity to coal ash ponds have to take greater measures to test groundwa- as much as a 1 in 50 chance of getting ter near coal ash ponds. cancer from drinking water contaminated This mandate comes in the wake of by toxins such as arsenic, one of the most an October report published by Appa- common and dangerous pollutants in lachian Voices that found 13 ash ponds coal ash. owned by Duke and Progress Energy to The sites identified by this report are be leaking toxic waste into ground water. in addition to the 70 that the Environmen- Results showed 681 instances in which tal Protection Agency noted in their justi- heavy metals had accumulated around the fication for a pending ruling on coal ash ponds in levels exceeding North Carolina contamination sites. The report urges the groundwater standards. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) These toxic pollutants, such as arsenic, to stop stalling on the EPA ruling. boron, cadmium, chloride, chromium, The first Operation Medicine Cabinet in Watauga County, N.C. was a huge success, collecting According to the report, “The evi- iron, lead, manganese, pH, and sulfate are thousands of pills. Photo by Jamie Goodman dence is overwhelming — these 31 sites among those known to cause cancer and sound a clear warning that the EPA must organ damage. heed before more damage is done.” Operation Medicine Cabinet: The power plants, which are typically Of the 31 identified sites, 25 are still located on rivers, routinely discharge wa- Program Aims to Keep Rivers and Kids Safe actively used as coal ash disposal sites. ter from the coal ash ponds directly into “The pollution present in this waste is By Megan Naylor only Watauga County, but overboard, it is serious to waterways. also Avery County, N.C. the point that it is becoming among the earth’s most harmful to aquatic Appalachian Voices’ In addition to this success, Upper Wat- Law enforcement of- more and more of an issue for life and humans—arsenic, lead, selenium, Upper Watauga Riverkeep- agua Riverkeeper Donna Lisenby joined ficials, scientists, and com- us, so the more we can get off cadmium and other heavy metals which er, Donna Lisenby, in col- the Environmental Integrity Project and munity partners have come the streets the better.” cause cancer and crippling neurological laboration with an alliance Earth Justice in a report that identified 31 together in order to offer According to Lisenby, damage,” Lisenby said. “If these poisons of community partners and coal-ash waste sites in 14 states—including people a place to safely dis- medication making its way can be kept out of the fish we eat, the water law enforcement officers, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West pose their medications. into rivers is especially we drink, bathe in, and need to survive, will host a second Operation Virginia—where groundwater, wetlands, There are several is- frightening because many simply through regulation, than we must Medicine Cabinet from 10 creeks, or rivers had been impacted by sues that raise concern towns get their drinking take that long overdue step, not only for a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 22. toxic pollutants. regarding the improper water from local rivers, the sake of our public waters but for hu- Operation Medicine According to the report, “Out of disposal of medications. which are already showing manity’s sake as well.” Cabinet is an event focused Control: Mounting Damages from Coal Law enforcement officials signs of elevated hormone To read the entire report click to envi- on collecting pharmaceuti- Ash Waste Sites,” “Many of the pollut- have observed a drastic levels. ronmentalintegrity.org. cal drugs to keep them out ants found in the waters underneath or increase of teenage pre- “It has gotten so prob- of regional waters and out scription drug abuse. lematic that male fish are be- of children’s hands. “We see even in some coming feminized,” Lisenby The debut event, host- of the elementary schools said. “If the tainted water is ed on Oct. 3, 2009, was a evidence where kids are causing intersex in fish, what huge success. The Watauga bringing legally prescribed is it doing to humans?” Riverkeeper and commu- medication from their mom, “Operation Medicine nity partners collected over New and Renewing Business League Members dad, brothers or sisters to Cabinet goes a long way in 40,000 pills. sell or take themselves,” bringing medications back Dec. 2009-Feb. 2010 The May Operation said Sheriff Len Hagaman. where they can be disposed of Abigail Higgins Gardening Services..... Instant Karma.....Asheville, NC Medicine Cabinet will ex- Vineyard Haven, MA “It is becoming rampant and properly and taken out of the Mountain Construction Enterprises..... pand to incorporate not Ambiance Interiors.....Asheville, NC Boone, NC although I don’t want to go stream for people with abuse Bare Essentials.....Boone, NC Mt. Rogers Outfitters.....Damascus, Va problems,” said Hagaman. PPALACHIAN OICES Care-Full Carpets.....Marshall, Va Paul Taylor Sandals.....Asheville, NC Additional drop-off lo- Doe Ridge Pottery.....Boone, NC Red Onion Cafe.....Boone, NC cations will be available this Early Girl Eatery.....Asheville, NC Timothy Warner, Inc...... Asheville, NC spring. To find out more, visit Hanging Dog Valley Nursery.....Murphy, NC V DrugTakebackDay.com or A We encourage you to patronize members of the Business League. call the Watauga Riverkeeper To become a business member visit www.AppalachianVoices.org or call us toll free at 877-APP-VOICE at 828-262-1500.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 26 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

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Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 27 Naturalist’s Notebook White Nose Syndrome & The Fate of Appalachia’s Bats Scientists say Mysterious Disease is Spreading Quickly

By Maureen Halsema cies in the northeastern U.S. have been affected by WNS, The world’s only flying mammal may including the big brown bat, be extinct by the end of the decade. tri-colored bat, little brown White nose syndrome—believed to be myotis, eastern-small footed caused by a fungus—has already killed myotis, northern long-eared about a million bats in the northeastern bat, and the Indiana bat (an regions of the U.S. and Canada, and is endangered species). spreading into Appalachia. Should the disease spread The fungus attacks bats as they hiber- further into Appalachia, there nate in winter months. Once the fungus are two other species—both of Hibernating little brown bats showing signs of white nose syndrome. Photo by Nancy Heaslip, New York Department starts in a bat cave, 90 to 100 percent of of Environmental Conservation, provided by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. which are endangered—that the bats die, and bat carcasses are scattered may be affected: the Virginia across the cave floors. served in Europe’s caves for quite some In 2008, the U.S. Forest Service closed big-eared bat and the grey myotis. “The biggest concern is that white- time, it is new to the scientific world and down approximately 2,000 caves and mines What is the cause of this massive epi- nose syndrome [WNS] is moving about scientists are not certain if the fungus itself across the eastern states in an attempt to try demic? The answer is still unknown, but 200 kilometers a year,” said Dr. Thomas is the cause of death or if it is a secondary to stop the spread of the fungus. there are several hypotheses. Kunz, biology professor and director of symptom. It is possible that unsuspecting spe- Many scientists believe that a fungus the Center for Ecology and Conservation One hypothesis, the itch-and-scratch lunkers, who accumulate the fungus on called Geomyces destructans that thrives in Biology at Boston University. “It’s mov- hypothesis, suggests that irritation caused their equipment and reuse that equipment cold and humid conditions is the cause. ing at a rate that is typical of an infectious by the fungus causes bats to prematurely in uninfected caves, are transmitting the The illness is dubbed white-nose syn- disease.” arouse from hibernation—a side effect of disease from cave to cave. drome because Geomyces destructans is a Earlier this year, the epidemic hit Vir- the fungus. Even if scientists do find a cure, bat fungus that attacks their skin glands and ginia and West Virginia, and the Tennessee “If they are scratching those itchy populations have already been dealt a hair follicles and in the later stages grows Wildlife Resources Agency recently con- places, this is likely to cause higher bouts severe blow—the majority of bat species in white tufts on the muzzle, wings, ears, firmed it in that state as well. of arousal and thus they expend energy,” are only capable of birthing one pup each and tails of many of the infected bats. Since white-nose syndrome’s discovery said Dr. Kunz. year. It would seem unlikely that many Bats affected by the disease display in 2006 in a cave near Albany, N.Y., about a To test this hypothesis, studies con- populations could recover for many gen- abnormal behaviors, such as moving to million bats have died. A spelunker explor- ducted by Dr. DeeAnn Reeder of the De- erations. This could have serious implica- the colder sections of the cave and fly- ing the cave discovered the disease when he partment of Biology at Bucknell University tions for the ecosystem, in which bats play ing during the day and during months found and photographed several bats with and Sarah Brownlee, a masters student at a significant role. of hibernation when their food source is the fungus growing on their faces. Bucknell University, are using infrared “The loss of bat populations at the nonexistent and fat stores are vital. These The following winter, January 2007, motion-sensitive video cameras set up in scale we are looking at right now has daytime excursions may be desperate the New York Department of Environ- hibernacula to monitor what bats are do- economic, ecological and public health im- attempts to find food, depleting the bats’ mental Conservation observed and docu- ing after they arouse from hibernation. plications,” said Dr. Kunz. “Ecologically, remaining energy and fat reserves and ef- mented the beginning of the white-nose Another hypothesis proposes that bats bats play an important role in pest control fectively starving them to death. syndrome epidemic. are not ingesting sufficient amounts of in agriculture and forestry.” Although this fungus has been ob- Thus far, six hibernating bat spe- polyunsaturated fatty acids for their fat re- During the warm months of the year, serves to last the duration of hibernation. when they are not hibernating, bats can To try to combat white nose syndrome, consume up to their body weight each What are you Waiting For? scientists are testing bat immune systems night in insects. With the loss of one of and fungicides to see if they can find a way nature’s best pest controls, the use of Become a Business League to combat white nose syndrome before it pesticides to combat insects that attack wipes out North American bat species. agriculture and horticulture would likely Member of The Appalachian “Another concern is how we could increase. This would impact public health Voice and Appalachian Voices implement a cure if one could be found,” as well as agricultural economics. with a tax-deductible donation, said Rick Reynolds, wildlife diversity “It’s a pretty dire situation because biologist for the Virginia Department of there is not adequate funding to support and support our work to educate Game and Inland Fisheries. “For example, the research that needs to be done,” said the public about environmental if you found a way to treat white nose Dr. Kunz. “We don’t have adequate re- syndrome on bats, how do you implement sources to even go out and monitor some issues in Appalachia! the treatment across the landscape? This of these colonies. It’s pretty basic biology would be especially difficult if it is not a that we need to understand before we can Call 1-877-app-voice or one-time-treatment.” get to the root causes.” visit appvoices.org/businessleague

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010 Pa g e 28 Th e App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

Non-Profit APPALACHIAN VOICE Organization 191 Howard Street US Postage Paid Boone, NC 28607 Permit No. 294 www.appalachianvoices.org Boone, NC

A bumble bee makes his morning rounds in this image by Eric Heistand, a finalist of the 2010 Appalachian Mountains Photography Competition (AMPC). The photography exhibition, which opened on March 5, 2010, will remain on display through June 5 at Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts in Boone, N.C. Best in Show and Category winners will be announced on March 27 during the 34th Annual Banff Film Fes- tival. View the finalists and vote for the People’s Choice award through March 25 at www. appmtnphotocomp.org. GETINVOLVED environmental & cultural events in the region To be included in our listing of environmental and cultural events for the Appalachian areas of Forest Trails Walk Environmental Education Week VA, W.Va, NC, TN and KY, please email [email protected]. Deadline for the next issue will be Hosted by the North Carolina Arbo- This year’s theme is “Be Water and Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 5 p.m. for events taking place between June 1 and August 30. March 23: April 11- 17: retum in Asheville, N.C., embark on a one to Energy Wise.” Register online: eeweek.org three hour guided trail walk, starting at 1 p.m...... Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Mtn. Justice Spring Break Explore Asheville’s ecological and culturally West Virginia Sustainable Fair Moore’s “Dear Companion” Tour Learn about mountaintop removal rich terrain. $6 parking fee. Call (828)665-2492 March 12-20: Hosted at Davis & Elkins College in A tour that shares music and through workshops, speakers, and service op- for more information. April 16-17: Spring/Summer: West Virginia featuring speakers and workshops raises awareness of mountaintop removal. For portunities in Wise County, Va. Donation $50 to ...... focused on energy, agriculture, community garden- tour dates click to BenSollee.com/tour. $100, includes all food and lodging. mjsb.org Fairview Ruritan Old Fiddler’s ing and organic foods. Contact Denise Poole at ...... Convention [email protected] to find out more. Great American Clean Up: Keep George Washington’s Bathtub March 27: Enjoy authentic Old Time and Blue- ...... America Beautiful A celebration of the most famous March 12-14: grass music! Registration at 5 p.m., contest at 6 Earth Fest 2010 March 1-May 31: The nation’s largest annual feature in Berkley Springs State Park in West Virginia, p.m. BlueGrassInGalax.com April 17: Hosted at Pellissippi State’s campus in community improvement program involves an George Washington’s Bathtub. BerkleySprings...... Knoxville, Tenn., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free ad- estimated 3 million volunteers and attendees. com/festivals.htm Whitetop Mtn. Maple Festival mission to food and eco-friendly entertainment. kab.org ...... March 27-28: Enjoy a pancake meal, storytelling, Knox-Earthfest.org ...... Muse local musicians and a wildflower slideshow. Take ...... Week in Washington The 2nd Annual Muse: A Celebra- March 19: a tour of Whitetop Mountain and learn different 40th Anniversary of Earth Day The Alliance for Appalachia’s End tion of Women in the Arts, hosted at the Lyric methods of tapping and tubbing pure maple syrup. March 6-10: Find local celebrations at EarthDay.net. Mountaintop Removal congressional lobby Theatre, in Blacksburg, Va., 7 p.m. in Support of Proceeds go to the Mt. Rogers Vol. Fire Dept. 8 a.m. April 22: week. Follow Week in Washington updates at Women’s Month and the Community Arts Office to 6 p.m. GraysonVirginia.com ...... iLoveMountains.org. and Information Center. Tickets $10 for adults, ...... N.C. Spring Herb Festival $5 for children. MuseBlacksburg.com The Western N.C. Farmers Market ...... Painters Greenhouse Herb Fest April 30-May 2: ...... boasts over 50 herb vendors selling spring herbs. Ground Water Awareness April 10-11: Crafter, vendors and musicians en- World Water Day Fri., Sat. 9 -5, Sun. 9-3. wncherbfestival.com March 7-13: Sponsored by the National Ground tertain and educate at this weekend festival in Old ...... International World Water Day held Water Association to emphasize the importance March 22: Fort, N.C., dedicated to fresh, locally grown herbs. Operation Medicine Cabinet annually to emphasize the importance of healthy of annual well water testing. ngwa.org 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PaintersGreenHouse.com Hosted in Watauga and Avery Counties, water and advocate for the sustainable manage- May 22: ...... N.C., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop off pharmaceuticals ment of community water systems. unwater.org for proper disposal. DrugTakebackDay.com.

Ma r c h / Ap r i l / Ma y 2010