AppalachianThe FREE August/September 2017 VOICE Wildflower Wonders Discover some of the region’s brilliant late-summer blooms Appalachia’s Health Report Residents contend with a rise in black lung disease and opioid abuse along with other environmental threats Cultivating Forest Medicinals | Pipelines Update | Hiking at Kentucky’s Natural Bridge The AppalachianVOICE A note from our team A note from our executive director For many Appalachians, summer means keeping As Appalachian Voices continues to fight new investments in A publication of fossil fuels, we’re also striving to advance clean energy, including Environmental News From Around the Region our gardens watered, spending time in the woods and AppalachianVoices the most effective, low-cost solution — energy efficiency. catching up on home projects. What we don’t typically Home energy efficiency improvements can lift the burden of West Virginia Acquires Land for Newly Reintroduced Elk NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 worry about is our energy costs. But as we lean towards high utility bills — especially for low-income families — and make VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 By Rachel Pressley acquired more than 44,000 acres that The groups are all helping with the a lot of opportunities for public enjoy- fall, tens of thousands of families will once again face homes healthier, all while protecting our air and water from the Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA • Raleigh, NC make up the Wildlife Management Area active elk restoration plan, which, ac- ment,” says Randy Kelley, the state’s elk the worry of how they’re going to pay their energy bills. impacts of dirty fuels. Below, Rory McIlmoil, our Energy Savings As of late July, 23 elk roamed new AppalachianVoices.org | [email protected] known as the elk zone. The land was cording to the West Virginia Division of project leader. Since 2013, our Energy Savings for Appalachia Program Manager, discusses how Appalachian Voices is working public lands in southern West Virginia. obtained by purchasing and leasing Game and Inland Fisheries, is address- The West Virginia Division of team has advocated for a solution called “on-bill financ- to make the benefits of energy efficiency more accessible and The herd was introduced to the area EDITOR.................................................. MOLLY MOORE separate tracts of land including 32,000 ing possibilities for elk management in Natural Resources is managing the elk ASSOCIATE EDITOR.......................... ELIZABETH E. PAYNE ing” that would allow families to pay for energy effi- affordable to families in our region. in December 2016 as part of an effort ONSULTING DITOR AMIE OODMAN acres within Wapiti Woods, located in Virginia while taking into consideration zone and plans to release more Rocky C E ............................. J G ciency home improvements that lower their monthly to rebuild an elk population in the CONTRIBUTING EDITOR............................. BRIAN SEWELL For the future, the Allegheny National Forest. the biological, sociological, economic Mountain elk to the area. DISTRIBUTION MANAGER.................... MEREDITH SHELTON bills while making their homes more comfortable. Mountain State. The Conservation Fund, an envi- and environmental issues present. Kelley explained that to be able EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.................. MEREDITH ABERCROMBIE We’re focusing on rural electric cooperatives, which Tom Cormons, Executive Director Native to North America, elk began EDITORIAL ASSISTANT.......................... RACHEL PRESSLEY ronmental nonprofit organization that Currently, more than three-fourths to eventually bring in more elk, the serve more than 500,000 homes in the Appalachian declining after Europeans arrived. Ac- GRAPHIC DESIGNER.......................... MAGGIE SHERWOOD focuses on preservation, along with 19 of the land is accessible to the public, agency’s Wildlife Resources Section is GRAPHIC DESIGNER................................. CARRIE HAYES region of Tennessee and North Carolina. One out of Only by exercising the power we have as members cording to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife MARKETING ASSISTANT............................. TYLER BIZJACK different organizations and many vol- while the rest is inaccessible until the planning to lease and buy land as it be- every five of those households struggle to pay their winter Service, by 1880 the Eastern elk was MARKETING ASSISTANT............................ JACK POWNELL of electric co-ops can we achieve a more efficient and unteers, joined in the effort to secure reclamation bonds are released. comes available for two other primary energy bills, with many spending more than a third of their extinct. The Rocky Mountain elk and sustainable Appalachia and alleviate the burden of energy this land, which was once owned by “We hope to establish a healthy, release areas. These sections will be DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Another Season Honey income just to keep their homes warm. costs faced by so many families. Electric co-ops can help the Manitoban elk are the two subspe- Farm, Alison Auciello, Karen Austin-Clayton, Debbie Bahr, mining, timber and land-holding com- self-sustaining elk herd that we can one part of the southern portion of the elk Electric co-ops already have access to funding and cies being reintroduced to lands once Becky Barlow, D’Arcy Batson, Shawn Becker, Bob Belton, address that problem for our families and communities. panies. Some parcels are still awaiting day have to offer for hunting opportu- zone and will be protected and open to part of the Eastern elk’s historic range. Charlie Bowles, Lynn Brammer, Ben Bristoll, Steve Brooks, resources that could help their customers save money It’s up to us to move them to action. post-mining reclamation. nities, while at the same time, offering the public for recreational uses. During 2015 and 2016, the agency Teri Brown, Christa Brusen, Bill Bunch, Derek Burke, Rob and live more comfortably, while also creating jobs and For our communities, Campbell, Sarah Caskey, Charlie Chakales, Shay and Kim lowering carbon emissions. So far, only a handful of co- Clanton, Cara Cooper, Dave Cooper, George Cortesi, Carly ops in the region have taken steps to offer this program. EPA Sampling for PCB Contamination Cicada Brood Hatches for First Time in 17 Years Crickenberger, Darlene Cunningham, John David, Sister The familiar hum of cicadas will be on full While there were sightings of cicadas Beth Davies, Deborah Deatherage, Clint Dye, Bill Elliott, That could all change if co-op members make their EPA sealed off the mine site in 1992. By Meredith Abercrombie blast this summer, as Periodical Cicada Brood in places like Maryland and Kentucky earlier Jakob Elliott, Nels Erickson, Frank Frey, Joe Geiger, Dave voices heard. If you are a co-op member, you are a part- But the high rates of cancer con- VI emerges for the first time since 2000. These this summer, Magicicada.org, a website that Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Lisa Goodpaster, Bruce Gould, Janet The U.S. Environmental Protection owner of your electric utility, meaning you have the power tinue to be a problem. The Fayetteville cicadas are found in North Carolina, northeast tracks cicada hatchings, suspects these are Hagy, Bill Harris, Jackie Havenaar, Susan Hazlewood, Agency was sampling water and soil in to influence the decisions your co-op makes regarding Rory McIlmoil Tribune reports that area residents be- Georgia and upper South Carolina. straggler populations that were not due to Sharon Helt, Tim Huntley, Mary K., Dennis Keeney, Allison Minden, W.Va., as of press time in early energy efficiency and clean energy. lieve one-third of their small commu- Anglers are looking forward to the trout hatch until 2021. — Meredith Abercrombie Keith, Frances Lamberts, Carissa Lenfert, Susan Lewis, Energy Savings Program Manager August. It is suspected that PCBs — nity have been diagnosed with cancer. that surface to feed on the cicadas. Loy Lilley, Joy Lourie, Diane Lucas, Gail Marney, Kate man-made chlorine-based chemicals McClory, Kim McClure, Rich McDonough, Mike McKinney, Dr. Hassan Amjad, a physician in — from equipment and oil dumped at Linda Meyer, Steve Moeller, Nick Mullins, Catherine Murray, Minden, has been conducting research an old mine in Minden are contaminat- Don O’Dell, Rob Osborne, Adam Pendlebury, Tessa into the correlation between PCB con- Perkins, Rick Phelps, Patti Phelps, Stephanie Pistello Chase environmental & cultural events ing soil and water and causing cancer GET INVOLVED tamination and the number of Minden Pugh, Bronwyn Reece, Carol Rollman, Kristin Rouse, Jenny among many community members. workshops, activities for children and more at See more at appvoices.org/calendar Rytel, Debbie Samuels, Steve Scarborough, Gerry and Joe Adopt-A-Trail Service Outing: residents diagnosed with cancer. In a ‘TIS THE Cooper’s Rock State Forest the Appalachian South Folklife Center. Ticket Shaffer Equipment Company used Scardo, Frank Schaller, Susie Seiler, Kathy Selvage, Brenda and strategize ways to create movements of press release by Headwaters Defense, Aug. 19: Volunteer with the Sierra Club to help prices vary. Pipestem, W.Va. Visit culturefestwv. the abandoned mine site in the 1960s Sigmon, Janeen Solberg, Lucy Spencer, Jennifer Stertzer, change. Registration required, ticket prices vary. clean a cross-country ski trail in Cooper’s Rock com/home or call 304-425-6425. an environmental justice organization, Andrew Tarley, Robert Thompson,