AppalachianThe FREE October /November 2019VOICE IN THIS ISSUE: The Intelligence of SPECIAL EDITON Slime Mold The Legacies of 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Use COAL Giants of the Great Smoky Mtns FINAL ATheppalachianVOICE A note from our executive director Across Appalachia A publication of Even when coal mining was at its rules — rules that some mine opera- Regulators and lawmakers have AppalachianVoices most profitable, the industry avoided tors continue to flout. For more than a deferred to this industry for too long. PFAS Contamination Still a Concern in US Mendota Rail-to-Trail Moves Forward paying the true cost of extracting coal. century, the abuses of an out-of-control But there is no excuse for inaction. We NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 Instead, miners and nearby residents suf- industry have pushed workers to orga- need strict enforcement of existing min- Since the 1940s, toxic, man-made face the aftermath of old contamination. On Aug. 16, local leaders and trail years of closure. He suggests that a shuttle VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 fered the health effects of polluted water nize to protect their health and ensure ing and reclamation rules, support for chemicals called per- and polyfluoro- Dubbed the “forever chemical,” PFAS advocates in Bristol, Va., celebrated the service and a bike shop could be next. Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA and airborne contaminants, as many do fair labor standards. black lung benefits and reauthorization alkyl substances — referred to by the cannot break down naturally. Chemi- grand opening of the Mendota Trail’s The work is not easy. Mueller ex- today. Despite this, mountaintop remov- All of these problems were occur- of the Abandoned Mine Land program. acronym PFAS — have accumulated cals manufactured decades ago still first section on a former railway. When plains that repairing or routing around AppVoices.org/thevoice | [email protected] al mining is still allowed to happen. Even ring when the coal barons were prosper- Beyond that, we need to demand the in water, air and food supplies. Federal contaminate resources and accumulate complete, the 12.5-mile hiking and biking the aging railroad trestles has been a chal- EDITOR ...............................................MOLLY MOORE as broader trends point to the industry’s ing. Now that the industry is sputtering, political will to hold companies account- regulators banned some strains from in organisms today. trail will run from Mendota to the north- lenge, but the group is fully committed. ASSOCIATE EDITOR ................................KEVIN RIDDER irreversible long-term decline, new mine the scale of the damage it inflicts on the able so that the communities who have production, but their replacements A February 2019 EPA study estimates ern edge of Bristol, fulfilling a vision held “We have a very close-knit group CONSULTING EDITOR & DESIGNER........JAMIE GOODMAN could be just as dangerous. that 99 percent of the U.S. population has DISTRIBUTION MANAGER .................MEREDITH SHELTON proposals continue to bring new threats land, air, water and people of Appalachia already given so much to this industry by the communities for decades. of dedicated volunteers who have had EDITORIAL ASSISTANT .........................RACHAEL KELLEY to people and natural areas. is clearer than ever. are not burdened with even more of the PFAS compounds were originally PFAS chemicals in their bloodstreams. After its railway was discontinued this dream for decades,” says Mueller. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ........................JACK SINGLETARY After mining, coal companies are sup- What happens when failing mines costs of coal as they move forward. attractive to manufacturers because of High levels of exposure can lead to health in the 1980s, the small farming town “Now we feel we finally have the right GRAPHIC DESIGNER .........................MARCIE HANCOCK their heat-, stain- and grease-resistance. issues such as high cholesterol, thyroid posed to meet a set of minimum standards saddled with pollution problems are of Mendota suffered economically. Or- pieces in place to make it happen.” Printed on 100% recycled newsprint, cover 40% For our mountains, Their first well-known use was in Du- diseases, low birth weights, immune ganizers of the Mendota rails-to-trails “It’s a slow process, but when you recycled paper, all soy-based inks to reclaim mine sites. But legal loopholes passed from company to company, and Pont Industries’ Teflon cookware, which system complications and even cancer. allow mine operators to delay cleanup then the company left holding the bag project hope to revitalize the commu- look back at how far we’ve come, it’s DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Ellen Adams, Lauren Albrecht, formerly contained a long-chain PFAS In North Carolina, residents of for years, posing safety hazards to people collapses? The state and federal bonding nity and benefit its neighbor, Bristol, very rewarding,” he adds. Sarah Alderson, Courtney Alley, Anne Anderson, Ahdya Elias chemical called PFOA. Pittsboro could be at risk. Water sam- by promoting outdoor activities and The organization received a $25,000 Attea, Jill Averitt, Cathy Bachara, Debbie Bahr, Nelson and living nearby and fouling the streams that system for reclaiming coal mines is being Tom Cormons, When research in the late 20th ples collected by Emily Sutton with tourism to both areas. grant for engineering studies in May Lanie Bailey, Gretchen Barelski, Another Season Honey Farm, hold the lifeblood of Appalachia’s beauti- put to the test, and there are reasons to century revealed rising levels of PFOA the Haw River Assembly identified Becky Barlow, Peter Barstow, Laura Bayer, Sara Bell, Bob Bel- ful and biodiverse mountains. doubt whether the system is up to the Executive Director Nonprofit organization Mountain 2019, and Mueller is optimistic that contamination across the United States, high levels of PFAS chemicals in the ton, Kate Blake, Teresa Boardwine, Roberta Bondurant, Charlie It took deadly disasters like the task. If it fails, it could put taxpayers — Heritage gained ownership over the rail- increased community support will keep Bowles, Bethann Bowman, Dale Brady, Lynn Brammer, Ben the U.S. Environmental Protection Haw River, which also serves as the way land in 2016. Mendota’s first mile of them moving forward. 1968 Farmington Mine explosion to all of us — on the hook for cleaning up Bristoll, Steve Brooks, Paul Corbit Brown, Teri Crawford Brown, Agency stepped in. By 2015, companies community’s drinking water source. trail was completed in October 2017, and “Hopefully by next year, we’ll have drive Congress to enact mine safety Big Coal’s mess yet again. Anne Brown, Christa Brusen, Bill Bunch, George Burazer, Roger participating in an EPA program had The origin and effect of the contamina- trail volunteer Bob Mueller remarked that another two miles, and that’ll bring us Byrd, John Calhoun, Pat Calvert, Debra Cantwell, Jes Carey, phased PFOA out of production. tion is unknown, but Duke University the community has already felt the ben- to about half the total amount of trail,” Shay and Kim Clanton, Ridge Cook, Dave Cooper, Dave Cop- environmental & cultural events Short-chain PFAS chemicals were researchers plan to explore the situation per, George Cortesi, Austin Counts, Anne Cressin, Sara Crouch, GET INVOLVED efits. “The Store” at Mendota, for example, says Mueller. Darlene Cunningham, Nancy Dagley, John David, Sister Beth created to replace PFOA and its long- over the next three years. was renovated and reopened as a cafe and To learn more, visit mendotatrail. Wise County Solar Tour hikes, presentations and more at Pine Moun- See more at appvoices.org/calendar Davies, Heather Dean, Deborah Deatherage, Tina Del Prete, chained relatives. They were marketed Researchers involved with a con- community center in May 2019 after 20 org. — By Rachael Kelley Visit homes, businesses tain Settlement School. Lodging is available Dana Denbar, Rose DeProspero, Cynthia Dunn, Roberta Dur- Oct. 19, 12-3:30 p.m.: Register at loans.maced.org/event-registra- as harmless replacements, but research- gressionally mandated PFAS exposure and more for guided tours to learn about solar and meals will be provided. $225 for ages ham, Heather Earp, Bill Elliott, Patricia English, Mike Feely, Dan- tion-2019, or call (859) 302-3868. assessment will investigate levels in energy use and opportunities. Free. Big Stone 13+, $125 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and ers began questioning their safety in iel Ferreira, Sandy Forrest, Frank Fry, Lesley Garrett, Lashonna Gap, Va. Call (276) 679-1691 or register at under. Bledsoe, Ky. Call (606) 558-3571 or 2011. The controversial short-chain Berkeley, W.Va., this fall. The study, part Geter, Dave Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Lorelei Goff, Bruce Gould, Appalachian Voices nationalsolartour.org/southwestvirginia visit tinyurl.com/PineMtnFall to register group includes GenX, which was mea- of the 2018 National Defense Authoriza- Tracy Greene, Bryna Grigg, Tauna Gulley, Kelly Haber, Meredith Membership Meeting N.C. Enery Democracy Tour Stops sured at dangerous levels in Eastern tion Act, will research PFAS exposure in Haines, Bill Harris, Penina Harte, Paul Hayes, Michael Hayslett, Young Appalachian Story Summit Nov. 7, 5:30-8 p.m.: Join us to discuss our Join your neighbors and Appalachian Susan Hazlewood, Eberhard Heide, Sharon Helt, Regina Hen- Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Hear from young, diverse Oct. 23: work and vision for the next few years. Gath- North Carolina in 2017 and is still a eight communities near military sites. Voices to discuss problems with monopoly drix, Dr. Laura Henry-Stone, Matt Hepler, April Herald, Pamela voices and join story circles and workshops. erings will be held at our offices in Boone, concern in the area (read more in the Since 2008, Kentucky, North Caro- utility systems. Free. Charlotte, N.C. Event Hill, Rick Hill, Sherry Hopkins, John Hundley, Mary Jacobs, Free, travel and lodging stipends available.